Centre sanctions Rs 298.76 crore for conservation of Dal Lake

Srinagar, Jul 7 (UNI) Centre has sanctioned Rs 298.76 crore for the conservation of the world famous Dal Lake, a major tourist attraction in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, speaking in the Legislative Assembly here today before submitting his resignation to Governor N N Vorha from the post (since accepted), said the amount would be spent on the construction of sewage treatment plants, Sewer lines to be laid around the lake and to rehabilitate the ten thousand families living in the lake.

Mr Azad said the work so far done included construction of three Sewage Treatment Plants at Hazratbal, Habak, Laam, 17,850 mt of main sewer lines laid against a target of 21,500 mt, 34,143 mt of lateral sewers laid against a target of 77,000 mt, the Settling Basin at Telbal Nallah had been commissioned, 468 mt long Cut and Cover Conduit linking Brar-e-Nambal Lagoon with river Jhelum has been commissioned and 99 square km of the catchment area of the lake has been treated.

However, he said the major problem was the rehabilitation of the ten thousand families living within the lake.

Now the land has now been identified at Rakh-i-Arth and Chandpura for rehabilitating them, he said.

UNI BAS SB RN1731