‘Restoration of Khushalsar needs sustained measures’

Srinagar, Sep 14: Nigeen Lake Conservation Organisation (NLCO) has urged authorities to ensure sustained conservation measures to restore the glory of Khushalsar lake in Downtown.

In a statement, NLCO Chairman Manzoor Wangnoo said it was a milestone when Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated the restoration of Gilsar and Khushalsar from Sazgaripora. “This was not merely an official event but a follow-up to the praise our Prime Minister had extended towards Mission Ehsaas, an initiative spearheaded by the Nigeen Lake Conservation Organisation (NLCO) that had already proven its impact in reviving neglected water bodies,” Wangnoo said.

“The damage done to Khushalsar is immense over decades of inaction by authorities. It needs sustained measures to restore the lake. We need to expedite the conservation process,” Wangnoo said.

“Much needs to be done, from the desilting of the clogged portion of the lake to clearing tonnes of accumulated muck. Machines must be pressed into service on a regular basis to undertake dredging and deweeding. The combination of citizen action and administrative support can help to restore Khushalsar,” he said.

“We need to understand that not Khushalsar is not merely a water body, it is actually part of the ecosystem of Dal Lake. It helps to maintain the hydrology of Dal Lake, and we need to ensure that its outflow is maintained,” Wangnoo added.