“It is very recently that I went to see the latest condition of some of the water bodies in Srinagar. I was extremely sad to see Khushal Sar, Gilsar and Anchar in a very bad shape.
One aspect of the debilitating situation of this landscape was the totally unchecked scale of illegal constructions of residential houses and other structures all around water bodies. I held my breath and imagined that this vast God-Given treasure of ‘Natural Resource’ belongs to no one!
The other aspect of this devastating situation is that no single Department of J&K Administration is responsible for this ‘Unlawful Activity’.
The LAWDA has already taken a public stand that it is not responsible for what is happening around Gilsar, Khushal Sar and Anchar.
I am told that the Act under which LAWDA was set up, does not give this responsibility to LAWDA!
Under these circumstances the UT Administration could reasonably be advised to organize a Joint Action by various organs of the Govt.
The LAWDA or the Municipal Corporation Srinagar could be tasked to initiate action as a Nodal Agency.
Things are so bad that any initial action would be a welcome measure!
I am, however, witness to a Silver Lining that wherever I went recently around these water bodies, a sizable number of people assured me that they would support any reformative action by the Govt. and/ or the NGOs.”
