Workshop on integrated management of Wular Lake held

Srinagar, Aug 08: Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Forest, Ecology and Environment, Dheeraj Gupta said that Wular Lake is a societal asset and “we all have a responsibility towards its protection, preservation and conservation.”

According to an official press release, he was addressing a function here after inaugurating a multi-stakeholders workshop for management of Wular lake here.

The workshop is being organised by Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA) in association with Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC)- German Development Cooperation (GIZ) Technical Cooperation project ‘Wetlands Management for Biodiversity and Climate Protection’.

The workshop aims to facilitate discussions on ongoing management actions, their effectiveness and jointly identify future priorities and strategies for integrated management of Wular Lake.

In his keynote address, ACS said, “We all should feel our responsibility towards the nation and the people and prove true saviours of the Wular lake. Stern efforts are required and we as a society have to rise to the occasion to work for its protection, preservation and conservation.”

Gupta said that the government has embarked on a transformative journey to restore and revitalize the Wular Lake with special focus on the ecotourism and livelihood of the local communities. He urged upon the need for a thorough analysis of past efforts and emphasised for improved inter-departmental collaboration to ensure cohesive and coordinated efforts across various governmental and non-governmental organisations.