Decades elapsed since the successive regimes in Jammu and Kashmir here have been claiming to have taken steps to preserve the world famous Dal Lake. However, on ground the water body is rapidly losing its attraction and fame with the authorities concerned failing to have taken steps to even de-weed it, thus putting a question mark over the seriousness of the government vis-a-vis preserving the Dal Lake. Decades ago, the lake was spread over an area of 75 square kilometres but by 1980s, it got shrunk to only 25 square kilometres. At present, the lake has reportedly witnessed further shrunk and covers only an area of 18 square kilometres. This shrunk is being witnessed mainly due to encroaching of wet land in and around the Dal Lake with many residential houses and other commercial buildings raised from past many years. Many of the times, the concerned Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) claimed to have started demolition drives to against illegally raised buildings. But, the question after such a huge shrunk, remains that is the concerned authority really capable of preserving the water body. Besides, nearly three years elapsed since the constitution of committee of experts to save Dal Lake, the foul smell continue to emanate from it. Therefore, the people here question spending of huge amount on the committee and also its failure in bettering the situation of Dal Lake. It is a known fact that Dal Lake has attracted lakhs of tourists from outside Kashmir to visit here so far, but the present condition in case continues would certainly end its renown and would also prove irksome to the people living in and around the Dal Lake. The world famous water body is also the sole source of income for many including house boat owners, Shika walas and others. It needs to be understand that the already hit economy of Kashmir will go further down in case these stakeholders would switch to other jobs. The concerned authority as well as the people at the helm should thoroughly consider the matter and should come up with a solution that would last for a long and would also ensure the water body is preserved for the generations to come.
Airfare hike: Tourism players upset
In what could be termed as the setback to the tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir, the airfare has gone...