1000 boats engaged to clean Dal Lake

Srinagar, Apr 20 (UNI) Expressing concern over the condition of the world famous Dal Lake, Minister for Finance and Urban Development, Tariq Hamid Qarra directed the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) to engage 1000 boats for cleaning poisonous weed algae in the water body.

Mr Qarra inaugurated a month-long cleansing drive of 15 km Dal area during which the most attractive water body for tourists in the city- will be cleansed of poisonous weed algae, polythene and other garbage, with the help of three machines and 250 boats.

However, the minister expressing dissatisfaction over the deploment of 250 boats only, ordered 1000 boats for the purpose.

He ordered the initiation of disciplinary action against the officers concerned for engaging only 250 boats when he had ordered daily deployment of 1000 boats and adequate labour force for the purpose.

Vice-Chairman, LAWDA, Mir Naseem informed the Minister that Rs 87 lakh was being spent on the lake's cleansing and allied works during this fiscal for which Dal has been distributed in 33 sections out of which cleansing of 29 sections has been taken in hand.

UNI BAS AE HT1440