The Jammu and Kashmir government is installing CCTV cameras around Dal and Nageen lakes in Srinagar to prevent further degradation of the world famous water bodies that attract a large number of domestic and foreign tourists to Kashmir.

Chief Secretary B B Vyas, during a meeting of the monitoring committee for preservation and conservation of Dal and Nageen lakes, took stock of the steps taken towards this direction.

Financial Commissioner, Housing and Urban Development, K B Aggarwal, DGP SP Vaid, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Rohit Kansal, Secretary, Law, Abdul Majid Bhat, Additional Secretary, Tourism, Gulzar Ahmad, and Vice-Chairman, Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA), Abdul Hafiz Shah were present at the meeting, while Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Ahmed Khan and IGP, Kashmir, SP Pani participated in the meeting through video-conferencing.

The committee discussed progress achieved and the action taken by the agency concerned related to estimation of pesticides in Dal Lake, conversion of de-weeded material into compost, creation of artificial wetlands, compilation of Water Quality Analysis Report, vegetation mapping, preparation of vision document, procurement of portable eco-sounder, development of Dole Demb, demarcation of Lake boundary and four-laning of boulevard.

The meeting also reviewed the progress on enactment of strong legislation for preservation of all water bodies in the state, establishment of dwelling units at Rakh-i-Arth, assessment of missing links under lake conservation and management programme related to arresting of sewer, demarcation of 200-metre zone from the periphery of Dal, Nageen lakes with proper signages and geo-tagging, installation of CCTV cameras, strengthening of the enforcement wing of LAWDA, purchase of machinery & equipment for the cleaning of Dal and Nageen lakes and de-weeding operation.

The Chief Secretary directed the Vice-Chairman of LAWDA to submit weekly activity report on development of Dole Demb. He also issued directions to carry out workshops, seminars, debates and other activities for creating sensitivity, awareness and stakeholder ship for conservation of water bodies in the state.