Save water bodies rally in Srinagar, handover Dal to foreign company

Srinagar, Mar 4 (UNI) Hundreds of people, mostly members of the Houseboat Owners Association (HOA), today took to streets demanding immediate measures for conservation of water bodies, including Dal and Nigeen lakes and river Jehlum in the Kashmir valley.

Holding banners which read--'Dal do not needs engineers but experts to serve', 'stop corruption to save Dal', 'handover Dal conservation to any foreign company'. They started procession from Nehru Park on the bank of water body to draw the attention of the common people and government towards the deteriorating condition of water bodies.

They alleged that Dal Lake has so far proved gold mine for the engineers and other officials of the Lakes and Waterway Development Authority (LAWDA).

The HOA demanded that demolition drive should be launched only after the affected people here rehabilitated.

The association urged everybody, including judges, lawyers, businessmen, government employees, common people and students to contribute in the efforts to save the lake before it is too late.

It is a historical fact that houseboats and the conservation of Dal, Nigeen, Chunti Kul and River Jehlum have a strong correlation and is, therefore, indispensable, a spokesman of the HOA said adding, all houseboat owners are prepared to fully cooperate with the conservation plan.

However, he demanded demarcation of territorial limits of both the lakes and ban on use of polythene near the water bodies.

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