Details

Category: ENVIRONMENT

Published: 25 August 2015

• Rs 248 cr expended on conservation of Dal Lake under NLCP

SRINAGAR: The Sub-Committee of Committee on Environment of J&K Legislative Assembly today visited Lamm, Habak, Hazratbal, Brarinambal and Nallah Amirkhan and inspected functioning of Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) at these sites and took stock of functioning of other works being carried out across Dal Lake for its conservation.

The Committee was headed by its Chairperson, Mtr. Shamim Firdous. Other members of the Committee include legislators, Mr. Gulzar Ahmed Wani, Mr. Aijaz Ahmed Mir and Mtr. Anjum Fazili.

During the inspection of water treatment plant Lamm, Nishat, the Vice Chairman Lake and Waterways Development Authorities (LAWDA), Mr. Sarmad Hafeez while briefing the status of the STPs informed the team that as many as five STPs with 36.7 capacity of MLD are functional and are treating raw water. Out of these STPs, the committee was informed, three are based on old FAB technology and needs upgradation and improvement while other two STPs-Brarinumbal, Nallah Amirkhan are based on state of Art new SBR technology.

The Committee was further informed that 150 Km sewerage have been laid around the periphery of Dal Lake. While as there are engineered wetlands created at Meerakh Shah Channel and at Habak.

The team was also informed that as many as 57 choked springs have been revived on periphery of Dal Lake which augments fresh water into the lake. Besides plantation has taken place in the catchment area along with creation of pastures to stock in flow of silt in the Dal. Moreover, retards, gibbous and Chakdams have been constructed to arrest the silt flowing with storm water.

Referring to the financial status of the conservation of the Dal, the Committee was informed that the project of conservation has been taken under National Lake Conservation Project (NLCP) at a cost of Rs. 298.96 Crore out of which Rs. 248 crore have been spent till now. The Committee also inspected many springs which include OPN nursery spring at Nishat. The Committee also visited buffer zone Guptganga area, parking site at Nishat and other places relating to conservation of Dal Lake.

The team also visited settling basin at Habbak, the water body for silt deposits. On the occasion, the Committee was informed that a Rs. 100 Crore preliminary DPR has been sent to the concerned quarters for approval to upgrade the basin and to construct another STP at the site. The Committee also visited Braine, Ishbar, Nishat and Karalsangri and inspected drainage system which has been linked with sewerage treatment plant.

During the visit, MLA Wachi Mr. Aijaz Ahmed Mir gave many suggestions for the further improvement in the functioning of treatment plants. Other MLAs also gave their suggestions. The team was accompanied by senior functionaries of LAWDA, Pollution Control Board, Environment and Ecology, SMC Srinagar and Revenue.