Restoration of Wular lake top priority of Centre, Prof Soz

Bandipora, North Kashmir, Nov 4 (UNI) The centre will provide all possible assistance to restore the pristine glory of ''Wular Lake'', Asia's largest freshwater lake, Union Minister for Water Resources Saif-ud-Din Soz said.

The survey for it has already been done, Mr Soz said at a public meeting here.

He said the lak belonged to all and ''it is our joint responsibility to preserve it.'' Mr Soz said the government headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, was doing its best to elevate people at the grassroot level, adding projects like Bharat Nirman and PMGSY had been launched to change the socio-economic profile of the people.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Education Peerzada Mohamamd Sayeed, who is also Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president said that the efforts of the state government, headed by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, for the welfare and development of people had paid off in the shape of creation of district headquarter and opening of the degree college here.

He said during the last five years special emphasis was laid for the expansion and development of Education sector, in the resulting appointment of 30,000 teachers.

He said schemes like SSA and EGS will further improve the education sector.

Mr Soz later inspected the Deputy Commissioner's office. The Minister was informed that Rs 21 crore district office complex would be constructed here which will accommodate all district level offices.

UNI