Govt constitutes panel to determine buffers around Dal, allied water bodies

Srinagar, Dec 9: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday constituted an experts committee to determine the buffers around Dal Lake and allied water bodies falling in the Srinagar metropolitan region.
According to an order, issued by Secretary to the Government, Piyush Singla, the government members who have been included in the committee include Vice Chairman, Lake Conservation & Management Authority (Member-Convener), Vice Chairman, Srinagar Development Authority, Representative of Department of Forest, Ecology & Environment, not below the rank of Conservator of Forests, Chief Town Planner, Town Planning Organization, Kashmir and Chief Engineer, Irrigation & Flood Control, Kashmir or his representative having sound knowledge and understanding of lakes and wetlands.
The Expert members includes Dr. A. B. Akolkar, Former Member Secretary, Central Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Environment & Forest, Government of India, Prof. A. A.Qazmi, IIT Roorkee, Prof. Meenakhshi Dhote, Environment Planning Department,SPA, New Delhi, Prof. Ariti Grover, Landscape Architecture Department, SPA, New Delhi, Prof. K. K. Pandey, Prof. of Urban Management, Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi, Prof. Zahoor Ahmad Rather, SKUAST, Kashmir (Floriculture & Landscape Department), Dr. Pratab Singh, Expert in Hydrology, RMSI and Dr. Himayun Rahid, Scientist, Department of Environment and Remote Sensing, J&K.
The committee has been tasked to comprehensively examine, after due consultations with the stakeholders, the question of buffers of the Dal and allied water bodies covered by the Srinagar Master Plan 2035, from an environmental/lake ecosystem and urban planning/design point of view for the sustainability and conservation of these water bodies also ensuring that the gains from the efforts over the last two decades are taken to their logical conclusion
The committee has been asked to submit a comprehensive report with clear and unambiguous recommendations on the extant of the buffers around these water bodies and the permissible activities that could be allowed in the buffer zones or in such areas beyond the buffers as would be necessary in the interest of the conservation of these water bodies.
“The committee shall be serviced by the J&K Lake Conservation and Management Authority and shall complete its task within two (02) months from the date of issuance of this order,” the order reads. (KNO)