Srinagar March 12:(KNS) In a mega event today, Nigeen Lake Conservation Organization (NLCO), launched a much needed Pontoon and initiated a cleaning drive at Khushalsar lake here.
The cleaning drive has been started in collaboration with Srinagar Municipal Corporation,
I&FC, LCMA & Dept of Tourism. During the drive "Mission Ehsaas", scores of volunteers from the NLCO, stakeholders and administration started the drive to clean Khushalsar.
The launching of pontoon was flagged off by Divisional Commissioner Shri Pandurang K Pole, IAS in presence of Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation & VC Lake Conservation & Management Authority besides other officials of Divisional and District administration. It is pertinent to mention that the pontoon which has been donated to NLCO by Supertherm and KM Resorts will greatly help keep the cleaning operation a sustained one.
Chairman NLCO ,Manzoor Ahmed Wangnoo on the occasion said that the aim of the Mission Ehsaas is to clean, restore and strive to save these prominent waterbodies, waterways and wetlands. "With full cooperation of administration and locals, our teams will soon be successful in realising the dream of clean waterbodies," he said. He added that we need to keep our operation sustained to achieve the desired results.
"Couple of decades back, the wetlands like Anchar, Khushalsar, Gilsar were free of this filth. It was the time when tourists used to navigate through these water bodies and enjoy the beauty of Kashmir. You can see these places have been turned into dumping sites. If we don't wake up now it will be too late. Through our drive we want to restore navigation via these water bodies like it was in the past," Wangnoo said. He said the wetlands should be demarcated and properly fenced to prevent dumping of garbage besides connecting the drains to STP and dredging of both the lakes (Gilsar / Khushalsar). Divisional Commissioner was welcomed by the locals and volunteers. After inaugurating the drive and launching of pontoon he thanked the stakeholder for their dedication and participation in keeping the operation alive.
Mr. Wangnoo also thanked Divisional Commissioner Kashmir for gracing the occasion, and also expressed his gratitude to DC Srinagar, Commissioner SMC, VC LC&MA, Irrigation & Flood Control, Tourism Dept. and police department for their cooperation in making the program successful. "With the help from our teams, we will continue the drive for around fifteen days till desired results are gained," he added.
“We are trying to set an example to make a history to conserve waterbodies with stakeholders and to make them conscious about the importance of these ailing assets” he expressed.(KNS)