Govt wakes up to restore Brari Nambal’s pristine glory

After years of inordinate delay, Government has formulated a comprehensive project to restore Brari Nambal lagoon in Shaher-e-Khaas to its pristine glory.

The lagoon situated at the entrance of Shaher-e-Khaas is on the verge of extinction mainly due to encroachments and pollution. The problem has been compounded by failure of authorities to undertake its conservation— for past nearly three decades.

Restoring of the lagoon situated at the entrance here has emerged as a litmus test for the government. On June 14, the Minister for Roads and Buildings, Gardens, Parks and Floriculture, Muhammad Altaf Bukhari visited Brari Nambal and directed the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) to prepare a comprehensive project within a month for restoration of the lagoon.

“Our government is committed to restore Brari Nambal to its pristine glory and make it one of the major landmarks of Shaher-e-Khaas. LAWDA has prepared a project in this regard. After technical clearance of the project, I will submit it to Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed for sanction. Before starting conservation of Brari Nambal, the CM might also visit the lagoon to assess its condition,” Altaf Bukhari told .

The lagoon is considered to be important as it helps to regulate hydrology of Dal by releasing its surplus waters into river Jhelum via a conduit at Fateh Kadal area. However, in absence of conservation measures by the successive regimes, the lagoon has turned into a cesspool. Piles of garbage, obnoxious weeds besides extensive encroachments from Baba demb side have severely affected its fragile eco-system.

Vice-Chairperson LAWDA, Sarmad Hafeez, said a project for conservation of Brari Nambal has been submitted to the Housing and Urban Development department for technical clearance and funding.

“The project estimated at Rs 70.52 crore includes dredging, cleaning and shoreline development of the lagoon,” Hafeez said.

Following a sustained campaign by highlighting the lagoon’s deteriorating condition, the government in 2013 had ordered short term conservation measures including immediate cleaning, dredging, expansion and beautification. However, due to paucity of funds, the LAWDA and allied departments failed to launch conservation measures.

Officials said LAWDA has several years ago submitted a project of Rs 65 crore for acquiring land and Rs 90 crore for cleaning Brari Nambal to Government. “But it was shelved due to paucity of funds,” sources said.

Experts maintain the conservation of Brari Nambal is a test case for the government. “Despite tall claims successive regimes in past nearly two decades have failed to restore the lagoon. In 2010, the then Government rejected the offer of foreign companies which offered to restore the lagoon as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Let us hope that the present regime will take measures for restoring glory of the lagoon,” said noted environmentalist Aijaz Rasool.