SRINAGAR: Advisor to the Chief Minister, Nasir Aslam Wani, today chaired a high-level meeting to review the functioning of the Wullar Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA), Wullar & Manasbal Development Authority, and the Hygam-Ningli-Tarzoo Development Authority.
The meeting was attended by MLA Sopore Irshad Rasool Kar, Additional Chief Secretary Tourism Dr. Ashish Chandra Verma, Commissioner Secretary Forests Sheetal Nanda, Chief Conservator of Forests Kashmir Irfan Rasool Wani, Director Tourism Kashmir Raja Yaqoob, and other senior officials.
During the meeting, MLA Sopore raised concerns over the lack of coordination among key departments and agencies such as Forest, Tourism, Fisheries, PWD (R&B), Jal Shakti, and Rural Development. He highlighted issues including neglect of tourism huts at Watlab and Ningli, the slow pace of dredging and desilting works, and the need for urgent attention to lake conservation and the livelihoods of local fishermen.
Advisor Wani reviewed departmental performance and directed officials to ensure proper maintenance of tourism infrastructure, especially huts, and to identify locations along highways for establishing way-side amenities. He stressed the need for close coordination between the Forest and Tourism Departments to ensure both conservation of Wular Lake and the development of sustainable tourism in its catchment areas.
The meeting was informed that 1.21 lakh trees have been felled to tackle siltation, and the Forest Department has allocated ₹25 crore this fiscal year to implement the Common Management Plan for Wular conservation.
The Advisor emphasized timely completion of dredging and desilting targets, removal of willow trees, and compensatory afforestation to offset environmental impacts. He also proposed evaluating the possibility of merging the Wullar-Manasbal and Hygam-Ningli-Tarzoo Development Authorities to streamline their functioning, while allowing WUCMA to continue focusing on lake conservation.
He added that the Fisheries Department must also play an active role in restoring the lake’s biodiversity by reintroducing various fish species and working on its ecological health.
Highlighting the international importance of Wular Lake, Advisor Wani noted its designation as a Ramsar site under the Ramsar Convention, underscoring its critical role in maintaining ecological balance, flood control, groundwater recharge, and supporting local livelihoods in the Kashmir Valley.
