Srinagar, July 28: Dal dwellers Tuesday appealed Lieutenant Governor to transfer the incumbent Vice Chairman of Lakes and Waterways Development Authority. They claim that the incumbent Vice Chairman is disinterested and not taking any pains in restoring the pristine glory of Dal Lake which according to them has died down due to lack of attention.
A group of Dal dwellers who visited Press Enclave Srinagar told news agency KNT that Dal Lake is dying due to the callous approach of the Vice Chairman Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA). “He is not showing interest in his job. From past couple of months, we have been watching Dal Lake dying with our own eyes. No efforts are being made to preserve it,” they said.
“Whenever we approach him, he misbehaves with us. He never is ready to listen to people,” they alleged.
They said those who have already been rehabilitated are forced to see their ancestral agrarian lands inside the Dal. “LAWDA doesn’t pay to them for the land they possess inside the Dal. At least they should be paid so that they won’t visit the Dal Lake.”
“Chief Secretary had directed the VC so many times to settle the accounts with the Dal dwellers, but the incumbent VC didn’t take the matter seriously and even over ruled Chief Secretary. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi maintained that Dal dwellers are being harassed in his speech when he visited Srinagar,” President Tahir Hussain Kand said and sought intervention of Lieutenant Governor G.C. Marmu.
LAWDA is mandated to serve as one point agency to look after, manage and conserve the water bodies and waterways in Valley.
“Vice Chairman and other officials are busy in enjoying government perks and facilities. They never bother to visit Dal Lake,” they alleged.
They said that LAWDA has failed to implement the recommendations of Court Committee that had directed it to address the issues of dal dwellers. (KNT)
