Waris Fayaz
Bandipora, Mar 11: Deputy Commissioner Bandipora Shakeel Ul Rehman on Monday declared the famous Wular Lake and other destinations as ‘polythene-free’, saying strict measures are being put in place to discourage the use of polythene materials.
The move, the DC said, aims to preserve the natural beauty of tourist destinations and promote eco-friendly practices among visitors across the north Kashmir district.
Around 65 kilometres from the capital city, Srinagar, Wular Lake — a Ramsar site situated on the foothills of Harmukh Mountain is considered Asia’s one of the largest freshwater lakes. It lies between the towns of Sopore and Bandipora.
Speaking at a function at Zurimanz Watlab, the Deputy Commissioner, emphasised the urgency to protect the pristine beauty of Wular and other tourist destinations to promote responsible tourism with long-term ecological status of the scenic spots.
“Wular, one of the largest freshwater lakes, holds an ecological significance. The polythene-free initiative is expected to contribute to preserving its rich biodiversity,” he said, adding that besides Wular, other tourist spots will follow the “polythene-free” instructions.
Rehman said the event hostings not only give a push to water sports and tourism but also serve as a strategic effort to divert youth from anti-social activities, especially drug abuse.
“We aim to create a sense of shared responsibility and channelise our youths’ energy into a positive direction by involving them in various sports activities,” the DC added.
Earlier, the authorities at the Wular Lake installed CCTV cameras around key locations to ensure 24-hour surveillance of the lake to curb illegal activities, especially bird poaching. The lake also serves as a winter home for thousands of birds who visit from Europe and other countries.
