Srinagar, Oct 15: People living in the surroundings of Gilsar lake in Srinagar on Saturday expressed anguish over authorities for leaving a cleanliness drive midway.
The people of Nowshera Srinagar told Rising Kashmir that the land occupied by the locals was retrieved. Roads were made and hundreds of trees were axed with the promise that the lake would be restored.
Mohammad Altaf, a local of Nowshera, said that when the drive was started jointly by the divisional administration and Nigeen Lake Conservation Organization, they were happy that after thirty years, the lake would be restored.
He said the work on this lake was going on for almost five months and hundreds of waste vehicles were removed by the department, but unfortunately, the lake was left unattended by the authorities.
A member of the Nigeen Lake Conservation Organization told Rising Kashmir that they, along with irrigation and flood control Srinagar, were jointly carrying out the operation in the lake.
However, he said the I&FC Kashmir was the main party who was executing this work, adding he was not aware why the department had left the work midway.
“We have also provided them with the machine to clean the lake,” the member added.
The inhabitants of the area said during this work process, every 15 days, the divisional commissioner Kashmir was reviewing and despite that, the project was not completed by the department.
“When the work on the lake was going on every day, the same as shown in newspapers and electronic media, however, they were unable to understand why the government left this midway. Even after the deputy commissioner of Srinagar also tweeted that “After thirteen years, the Gilsar lake is being restored,” Altaf added.
“The foul smell has surfaced in the whole area, and they are facing immense hardships, and the smell also poses a threat to getting infected with various diseases.”
The people of this area have urged the government to complete this cleanliness drive at the earliest so that they won’t face the problems ahead.
Speaking to Rising Kashmir, chief engineer of Irrigation and Flood Control Kashmir, Naresh Kumar, said that the operation was jointly carried out by the local NGO and the department.
On being asked why the work had been left midway, the officer said that he would take this matter to the concerned officer for further course of action.
