ARFAT KHAN
SRINAGAR: Facing shortage of funds, the world renowned tourist destination Dal Lake in Kashmir is today lying in shambles.
Remained close to hearts of every national as well as International tourists and considered as live heaven on earth, the Dal Lake has loses its sheen and wear a frown look especially for the last one year.
For the preservation and development of this famous Dal lake, the state government have established Lakes and Water Development Authority (LAWDA) which today also works under the supervision of Jammu and Kashmir High Court with committee of experts drawn from across India for development of Dal lake.
Even the web site of LAWDA in its welcome note while extensively underlines the significance of Dal lake with reference of saints, sufis and emperors who described it as abode of heaven on earth claimed to have mandated with whole time job of conserve and manage the Dal and Nigen lake.
But despite so much gigantic personification of Dal lake on its site, the current pathetic condition of Dal Lake reflects the lackadaisical approach of administration towards this world class tourist destination besides contradicting tall claims of LAWDA.
Pained at the pathetic condition of lake with weeds and garbage floating on its surface every where, Israr Khan a retired IPS officer and resident of Srinagar said “The Dal Lake had never been as dull in appearance as it looks today”.
“Billions of rupees has been spent on its conservation and de-weeding but still this famous tourists destination keep shrinking and wear a wither look”. Now it looks like a dirty pond, sarcastically asserted Israr.
Though LAWDA got around 50 crore under APEX besides several crores under centrally sponsored schemes, the sources in the LAWDA revealed that the absence of modern sophisticated machines on account of “shortage” of appropriate funds is the main impediment in the development and maintenance of Dal lake to desired level.
Sources in LAWDA reveals “For de-weeding of Dal Lake there are four machines which are 20 years old, rendered redundant and lacks efficiency in drugging such a vast water body.
LAWDA is struggling with funds to purchase modern machines which are necessary for maintenance of Dal lake, added sources.
Even the deplorable condition of boulevard road which leads to several tourists destination in Kashmir and situated along banks of Dal lake points the level of non seriousness prevailing among the district administration and concerned officers of PWD engineering departments towards creating quality infrastructure around this famous tourists destination.
The entire boulevard road upto SKICC contains pot holes and resembles as it was hit with carpet bombing said another local resident of Srinagar namely Syed Iftikar.
The administration deliberately prefers to construct poor quality roads in snow ridden regions to keep their personal interests intact alleged one officer of PWD preferring anonymity.
Every year bureaucrats, engineers and ministers went on “study” tours to different foreign destinations but none among them till date have adopted the techniques to construct snow friendly roads at least around Dal lake which though are costly but effectively stand extreme weather besides long span of life, added one officer.
In fact there is complete lack of coordination between the LAWDA, District administration, Tourism Department and PWD pertaining to holistic development of Dal lake.
The unplanned construction of Ghats along the banks of Dal lake is a glaring reference of this poor coordination as the same lacks any provision for hurdle free movement of aged and differently tourists desiring for a lifelong memorable Shikhara ride.
Talking to the JKGN, Tuffail Mattoo, Vice Chairman LAWDA clarified that the cleansing of Dal lake has suffered badly on account of inevitable series of lockdown in the Srinagar due to reorganisation of state and then pandemic.
In the same breath he said that with the active support of administration, the LAWDA has formulated a strategy for cleansing of Dal which will be in operation by first week of June.
Reacting to shortage of funds, Mattoo said “The department has finalised formalities for purchase of new modern machine which will help de-weeding Dal deep down the soil. Rest, the four machine are in running condition, he added.
Pertaining to pitiable condition of road around Dal and absence of friendly passage for differently able tourists at Dal Ghats, Mattoo said “These are important matters which reflect the image of the Dal and assured to flag the same on priority to the concerned departments”.