4-lannning of Boulevard Road
SRINAGAR: With environmentalist raising several questions over the proposal to four lane the scenic Boulevard road circling around the famed Dal Lake, government Tuesday said that an expert panel will be asked to study the impact of the proposal on the environment.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan said that the government has asked the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) Nagpur, to study the impact of four-lane Boulevard road project and submit the report within ten days.
The Div Com was speaking at a meeting to discuss various issues related to various water bodies in Srinagar. The meeting was attended by VC LAWDA and officials of SMC, SDA, Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing and other concerned.
Khan said that the study will determine what will be the impact, if any, of the four-lane Boulevard project on the water body and how best can proceed with it. He directed the NEERI representative to expedite the work so that the project will commence at the earliest.
The Div Com also directed LAWDA, Department of Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing and Revenue authorities to work in coordination to clear the Dal Lake and other water bodies of encroachments and determine their original boundary.
“Revenue authorities will get the old map of water bodies from MuhafizKhana and with the help of LAWDA and Remote Sensing start geo-tagging the original boundary of Dal Lake, Khushal Sar and other water bodies,” said Khan adding that it will provide an original picture and future reference for overall development. He said that DC Srinagar will daily monitor the exercise and will furnish fortnightly report on the progress.
The Div Com took strong notice of some families having illegally occupied some dwelling units at Rakh-e-Arth. He directed the officials to evict the unauthorized families and allot the dwelling units as per the original list of deserving families.
He also reviewed the overall progress of development of Rakh-e-Arth area and rehabilitation of families dislocated on the banks of River Jhelum from Dobjighat to Cement Bridge.
KV Correspondent
