Govt flouts norms approves road construction in interiors Dal Lake

Despite Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti’s directions over restoring the pristine glory of world famous Dal Lake, the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) in a recent case has failed to stop the construction of link road into the Dal interiors, throwing its own norms to wind.
Kashmir Post has learnt that the construction is on from last 20 days and it would take some more weeks to connect this area with Nishat but on another side. The construction works of link road from Kani-Kachi to Moti Mohalla falls in Rainawari area.
The length of road is more than 4 kilometers and 1.5 kilometers has been completed and due to snowfall, the work has been stopped.
“The material is being facilitated road construction during the night irrespective of the presence of law enforcement t agencies,” local delegation told Kashmir Post.
They said that authorities have so far failed to take steps to stop entry of construction material into Dal interiors and will lead to the destruction of the Dal Lake.
Witness said Department of Mechanical Engineering Srinagar division had provided the rollers for the illegal road construction that is going in the area from last 3 weeks.
In another eyewash, LAWDA has allowed the illegal construction of 1 KM road from the Ranger stop to Kani-Kachi road during the 2016 shutdown leaving its owns orders on shelves.
“We were using boats till 2016 to reach Rangar stop on Dargah Hazratbal road but unrest was a benefit for people of the area and we constructed this road with the help of LAWDA during that time,” said Mohammad Abbas a local resident.
Pertinently LAWDA, on the other hand, is rehabilitating the same population from a couple of years to restore the pristine glory of the Dal Lake.
The Rakhi Arth rehabilitation programme, which was formulated to rehabilitate Lake Dwellers in the Bemina to fill the wetland by the government of Jammu and Kashmir but still the constructions are going on an alarming rate in the famous Dal Lake.
“If LAWDA is filling the wetland to rehabilitate Dal population in Bemina but the same government is providing them to construct the road, why LAWDA fills the Dal Lake at least Bemina Wetland would be saved, said a witness from the area.
Witness said the filling of water bodies in the Dal Lake will also halt the machinery that has been used by the government to clean Dal Lake.
They said if the constructional material will move to the interior of the lake, it will hamper conservation of lake and people will start commercial establishments including hotels and restaurants.
LAWDA officials are in deep slumber as precious water bodies are being used construct illegal structures in the Dal lake interiors and this time LAWDA officials are allowing the road construction for a population who according to them are being rehabilitated in other areas of the city.
Despite High court has banned any activity including LAWDA but the department is constructing road has not only violated court orders but also conservation plan.
The Head of the Earn Sciences Department at the University of Kashmir, Shakeel Ahmad Romshoo told Kashmir Post that damage to the Dal Lake has already been done by both people and the government itself.
“If the government has the plan to rehabilitate the same population then what is the fun of making these illegal roads, Romshoo said.
However the vice-chairman, LAWDA, Hafeez Masoodi told Kashmir Post “that the work will be stopped and there would be no construction anymore.”
VC said that they would send enforcement team on the spot and he assured that work will be stopped.
“We will take strict action against offenders,” Masoodi said adding that we are rehabilitating the same population and the matter has been referred to Housing and urban development for further process.