Officials of the J&K administration say many attempts to stop encroachment on Dal Lake were stopped by politicians, but now is an ‘opportune moment’

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has decided to construct a 3-km-long road along the western shore of Srinagar’s Dal Lake to help prevent further encroachment.

Administration officials said “political interests” had previously interfered with anti-encroachment drives around the second largest lake in the Kashmir Valley, but this seems to be an “opportune moment” to end encroachment, since politicians are being held in detention since the 5 August decision to scrap Article 370.

Officials who didn’t wish to be identified said they would routinely come under pressure from some politicians in the erstwhile state who would halt the anti encroachment drives to prevent alienation of constituents.

The administration has now allotted Rs 600 crore to the Lakes and Water Development Authority for the construction of the road.

(Courtesy: The Print)

The Print