Dheeraj, Pole visit Manasbal Lake

Ganderbal, Mar 11: Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department (H&UDD), Dheeraj Gupta and Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole, Friday took an exhaustive visit of Manasbal Lake to inspect progress on various beautification works being executed there.
Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Krittika Jyotsna, Additional Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Farooq Ahmad Baba besides other officials of Manasbal Development Authority accompanied them during the visit.
ADC, who is holding charge of Chief Executive Officer Manasbal Development Authority, briefed the Principal Secretary regarding the works undertaken for beautification of Manasbal Lake and its adjoining areas. He said that efforts are underway to develop Manasbal park into a beautiful recreation area which will add to its tourist influx.
Both Principal Secretary and Divisional Commissioner inspected the progress on development works being executed in Manasbal Lake like pathway construction, construction of septic tanks and waste management pits, deweeding, desilting, installation of boundary walls, removal of encroachments and other related works.
They also visited several proposed development works including car parking site near Manasbal Lake, balance pedestrian pathways besides Bypass road from Patwari Khana Pottermohalla to Engineering College Safapora link road.
While reviewing progress on beautification works, Principal Secretary asked the CEO to install aerators along the periphery of Manasbal Lake for its beautification besides completing de-weeding and dredging works on war footing.
While appreciating the aesthetics of the lake and its adjoining areas, Principal Secretary said that Manasbal Lake being one of the major tourist attractions of the district requires protection. He directed for expediting beautification works on the lake and called for massive awareness generation on the importance of its preservation.
Principal Secretary exhorted upon the concerned to work in tandem and redouble their efforts so that the environment of the lake is preserved and its pristine glory is restored. He also stressed for generating mass awareness among the people especially living along the periphery of the lake regarding intrinsic natural value of water bodies.