Srinagar: For last four decades successive governments have been making various plans to restore the Dal Lake but nothing concrete has been done in this regard except the creation of J&K Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA). The LAWDA has failed to restore the beauty of these lakes.
Over Rs. 500 crores have already been spent so far for restoring the beauty of these lakes and the result is very obvious.
The Dal and Nagin Lakes provide bread and butter to those associated with the Houseboat trade and only a fool can blame Houseboats for degradation of the lakes.
While Houseboat people are always held responsible for defacing the beauty of these lakes, those who have concrete hotels and guest houses inside these lakes are not.
We as responsible citizens of Kashmir have every right to live in a dignified manner socially or religiously. The concerned authorities and departments have been playing a blame game so far. I request the Honorable High Court, concerned Authorities and departments to take the stakeholders in to confidence and then chalk out any future plan for these water bodies.
About Dole Demb please read remarks of Environmentalist MRD Kundangar who has beautifully emphasized it in social media while commenting on a post by Geologist Dr. Shakil Ramshoo.
In the modern era, I dont think it is impossible to control the wastes, sold or liquid, polluting the lake. I am requesting the concerned authorities this is the high time to resolve this crises.
If government still feels Houseboats are a nuisance let it take over these houseboats and the land/mooring sites we own and then pay us proper compensation as per the present market rate.
Or else the Government should help us restore glory of the lakes. They shouldnt discredit the Houseboat Industry which is the real heritage of Kashmir as there are no such houseboats anywhere in the world.
