Srinagar, September 21: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday joined the Dal Lake Cleanliness Drive in Srinagar as part of the ongoing ‘Sewa Parv’.
The LG felicitated Swachhagrahis for their contribution to cleanliness campaigns and urged 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,” Sinha said.
He stressed that growth must go hand in hand with environmental conservation. “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 LG commended the role of the administration, Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA), voluntary groups, and citizens in efforts to rejuvenate Dal and other water bodies.
“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,” he noted.
Sinha highlighted that several initiatives under LCMA are aimed at transforming the lives of Dal residents. “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,” he said.
He added that rising awareness about environmental issues is gradually changing people’s attitudes and called on officials, schools, institutions, and citizens to ensure the momentum generated during Sewa Pakhwada becomes a long-term cleanliness movement.
Those present included Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to the LG; Mandeep Kaur, Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development; Anshul Garg, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; Dr GV Sundeep Chakravarthy, SSP Srinagar; Akshay Labroo, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar; Faz Lul Haseeb, Municipal Commissioner Srinagar; besides senior LCMA officials, civil and police administration, civil society members, Swachhagrahis, and representatives of social organisations.