BY: Mohammad Hanief Wani
Dal Lake is the Jewel in the crown of Kashmir. It is the heart of the Kashmir valley beauty vise, and viewed among the most beautiful lakes of the world. The beauty of Dal Lake is unmatched. The selfish attitude of masses and lazy, corrupt governments for more than 7 decades had destroyed the sheen, area and clean environment of Dal Lake. The menace of ugly encroachments had destroyed the environment of Dal Lake. Now, with the abrogation of article 370 since past more than 3 years the lost glory of world famous Dal Lake is being regained. It’s cleanness parameters have also improved much and the encroachments are also being checked effectively.
The realities defining Dal Lake are much bright .lake in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is an urban lake, the second largest lake in Jammu and Kashmir, and the most visited place in Srinagar by tourists and locals. It is integral to tourism and recreation in the Kashmir valley and is variously known as the “Lake of Flowers”, “Jewel in the crown of Kashmir”or “Srinagar’s Jewel”. The lake is also an important source for commercial operations in fishing and water plant harvesting.
The masses are happy by the efforts taken by the Lieutenant Governor lead administration of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in improving the condition of Dal Lake.
Dal Lake is also getting new and refreshing tourist villages. It is learnt that the Dal Lake in Kashmir’s Srinagar will get five new tourist villages–Kachri Mohalla, Sofi Mohalla, Tinda Mohallah, Akhoon Mohalla and a vegetable market–with homestay facilities for tourists, and basic facilities for both tourists and locals.
This project comes under the Tourist Villages Development programme, a Mission Youth initiative.
On the other hand LG Manoj Sinha lead administration has taken new strides towards improving the stature of Dal Lake.
The Lt Governor observed sometime back that dedicated efforts have been initiated in the last two years to clean Dal Lake, and for conservation and protection of other water bodies across J&K. In this year’s budget, Rs 373 crore has been allocated for development and conservation of Dal and Nageen lakes, he said.
The Lt Governor noted that for the first time in history, a successful campaign is being run with active public participation to clean Dal Lake.
“The de-weeding campaign which was started last year was very successful; now we will add new cleaning machines to the existing fleet and start dredging work on the western side to restore 60,000 Sq metre area”, he observed .
Other important steps are being taken to promote serenity of Dal Lake.
The officials of Lakes Conservation & Management Authority (LC&MA) Saturday said that shoreline of Dal Lake would get a massive facelift in times to come wherein ‘untapped’ parks adjacent to the lake would be developed while as fountains at salient points would be installed for the attraction of visitor footfall.
The government has made it clear that besides other measures regarding revamp of Dal Lake and its beauty, there are multiple projects under consideration by which the world famous Dal Lake will get massive facelift.
It is also pleasing to note that post abrogation of article 370 pained by dwindling mighty chinars, iconic island Char Chinari in the middle of the Dal lake in Srinagar, which became famous after the Bollywood song ‘Accha To Hum Chalte’ was shot there in the 1970s, has been brought to life again.
With J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha pursuing the department of floriculture, on Monday two tall Chinar trees were planted on the picturesque island with Zabarwan hills in the backdrop. This will be for the second time in the past decade that Chinar trees, which otherwise survive for centuries; will be planted on the island.
People now with effective zeal and Zest are giving dedicated efforts to give the Government of Jammu and Kashmir full suggestions and support to the Government in improving the health of Dal Lake as it is related to the roots of Kashmir.
The efforts of bringing back the sheen of Dal Lake are in full swing post the abrogation of article 370, as the Government is also making effective steps to improve the status of Dal Lake. Government is trying to make the Dal Lake the Jewel of Kashmir tourism as it defines the heart of historic city of Srinagar.
