Bandipora 02-03-2021: Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources Regulatory Authority (JKWRRA), Ghanshyam Jha today conducted an extensive tour of district Bandipora and inspected Wular lake and adjoining water bodies including Jhelum inlet and outlet of Wular lake. He was accompanied by a team of officers of Irrigation and Flood Control which included Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Iftikar Kakroo, Superintending Engineer Srinagar, Naseer Kakroo, Superintending Engineer Hydraulic Baramulla, Hakeem Firdous and others.
At the outset, Coordinator Wular Conservation and Management Authority, Irfan Rasool gave a brief presentation about ongoing Wular Action Plan. He informed that the current plan has financial outlay of Rs 200 crores and it is to be completed in 2 years of period. He informed that a total quantum of 63.10 lakh cubic meters of silt load is to be removed under current plan from Wular lake from its critically silted up sections to restore 3.10 Sqkm area of lake. He apprised that 41.15 lakh cum of silt has already been removed so for under ongoing project and the progress achieved is 65%. On other components of wular action plan, he apprised that works of different nature are going on with full scale. He added that afforestation in catchment area is going on and works under development of ecotourism and conservation of biodiversity are also under progress. Regarding removal of willows, he informed that 90000 willows have been removed so for, which have generated Rs 20 crore revenue to government.
After the brief presentation, the Chairman JKWRRA ventured into water body on a tug boat to take assessment of ongoing restoration works. He inspected water depths in restored sections at different points. He examined type of machinery deployed for dredging. He also inspected peripheral dykes and water channels running across Wular.
The Chairman appreciated the initiative of WUCMA and commended the demarcation work which has been completed to prevent encroachments. He stressed on scaling up of restoration works to create maximum storage within the Wular lake. He stressed on monitering of siltation rates, proper management of dykes, integration of lake conservation plan with jhelum flood mitigation plan and further scaling up of afforestation activities in Wular Catchment.
Among others, Project Coordinator CAT Mudasir Mehmood, Superintending Engineer WUCMA Siraj-u-din Shah, DFO Bandipora Shabir Ahmed Bhat, Assistant Executive Engineer JKWRRA Muzamil Rafaqui were present.
