Jammu: The government on Monday admitted that the condition of Lakes except Dal Lake in Kashmir was deteriorating.

This was stated in a written reply to a query raised by MLA Abid Hussain Ansari.

The minister for housing, urban and development department in his written reply informed the House that the condition of Anchar Lake, Gilsar and Khushallsar lakes have deteriorated in Kashmir.

“But the condition of Dal Lake has not deteriorated given the implementation of a project by LAWDA for its preservation,” the minister said in a written reply filed in response to a question.

The written reply from the government further revealed that an amount of Rs 4.06 crore was spent on cleaning, dredging and de-weeding of Dal during 2015-16 year.

“An amount of Rs 3.54 crore was utilized in 2016-17 and Rs 2.77 was utilized during 2017-18 up to December for dredging, cleaning and de-weeding of Dal,” the reply states.

The minister further said, the government, in pursuance of the directions of the High Court, Rs 100 crore has been sent as pre-feasibility report (PFR) for Gilsar, Khushallsar and Anchar lakes to Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) for their prioritization under next ADB loan funding.

“But the decision is yet to be taken,” the minister in his reply said.

“Physical demarcation of these lakes shall be taken up by a committee headed the divisional commissioner Kashmir,” he said.

The minister further said the government of India has released Rs 273.85 crore for conservation of Dal and Nigeen Lake under NLCP.

“Out of total package of Rs 356.30 crore, Rs 83.18 crores have been released under PMDP as well,” the written reply of the minister reads.

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