Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha today joined the Dal Lake Cleanliness Drive, as a part of ongoing ‘Sewa Parv’, in Srinagar.
The Lieutenant Governor felicitated the Swachhagrahis for their valuable contribution to Swachtha Campaigns. He called upon citizens to preserve lakes, rivers and other water bodies through community involvement.
“Our natural resources are reminding us to learn the lessons from the wrongs we have committed in the past. We must respect the delicate balance of nature and concerted efforts should be made to clean our lake and rivers,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor emphasized the need to synergise economic development with environmental resources.
“Growth cannot be one-sided. Encroachment, pollution, climate change, and over-extraction is posing a significant threat to our rivers and lakes. Addressing the major challenges of rapid depletion of natural resources and degradation of our ecology should be topmost priority.
Economic growth and ecological integrity must be integrated into government policy. Lakes and rivers essential lifelines for humanity and citizens must preserve them through community involvement,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor commended the dedicated efforts by the administration, citizens, Lake Conservation and Management Authority and voluntary organizations to restore the lakes, rivers, and other water bodies to their original state.
“During last five years, work for preservation of Dal- Nigeen Lake and in the catchment area has been undertaken in a mission mode.
Dal lake is cleaner and attracting large numbers of domestic and international visitors. More than one third of Lake has been rejuvenated and vast areas were cleared from Lilies and open expanse of the Dal Lake has been increased for the first time to more than 20.3 Sq Km,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor said the numerous projects initiated by the Lake Conservation and Management Authority are also transforming the lives of Dal residents. He said, a major initiative under the AMRUT scheme is underway to connect all houseboats to sewage treatment plants.
“A new sewage treatment plant project worth Rs 306 crore is in the pipeline. The process of launching the Integrated Management of Dal and Nigeen Ecosystem Project, a Rs 212 crore initiative has begun under the Prime Minister's Development Package. This project will not only transform the lives of Dal residents but also boost tourism. The ongoing year-round campaign of Lake Conservation and Management Authority, with significant volunteer participation, to conserve Dal and Nigeen, is engaging people with cleanliness drive and conservation efforts,” the Lieutenant Governor further added.
The Lieutenant Governor observed that growing awareness of environmental issues in people’s daily life is influencing change in their attitude.
The Lieutenant Governor also called upon officials, educational institutions, schools, government and private institutions to ensure that the river and lake cleaning campaign and momentum generated during Sewa Pakhawada must foster long-term swachh drive.
Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor; Ms Mandeep Kaur, Commissioner Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department; Shri Anshul Garg, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; Dr GV Sundeep Chakravarthy, SSP Srinagar; Shri Akshay Labroo, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar; Shri Faz Lul Haseeb, Municipal Commissioner Srinagar, senior officials of Lake Conservation and Management Authority, civil and police administration, civil society members, Swachhagrahis and representatives of various social organisations also participated in the Dal Lake Cleanliness Drive.