Once known for its crystal-clear waters, Anchar Lake in Srinagar is facing severe environmental degradation due to pollution and siltation. The lake, which once covered 19.54 square kilometres, has shrunk to around six square kilometres, of which 3.6 square kilometres is marshland.
According to an official communication issued by the Housing and Urban Development Department, the inspection will focus on assessing the measures undertaken for the lake’s conservation and identifying further interventions required for its effective protection and sustainable management.
The Committee on Environment of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly is headed by MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami.
The department has directed the Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Lakes Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) and Urban Environmental Engineering Department to coordinate arrangements for the visit and ensure the availability of relevant records and information.
Senior officers and technical personnel have been asked to brief the committee on conservation, restoration, pollution control and waste management measures undertaken at the lake.
Besides Tarigami, the members scheduled to participate in the inspection include Gharu Ram, Sajad Gani Lone, Baldev Raj Sharma, Daleep Singh, Showkat Hussain Ganie, Javaid Ahmad Mirchal, Sajjad Shafi, Salman Sagar, Javaid Riyaz Bedar, Rameshwar Singh and Devyani Rana.
The Commissioner/Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department, Chairman of the J&K Pollution Control Committee, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar and Director SKIMS Soura have also been requested to accompany the committee.
The inspection is aimed at reviewing ongoing efforts and identifying additional measures needed to protect the lake and ensure its sustainable management.
