With a sole intention to protect and conserve the world famous Dal Lake, a seminar was organized here at Char Chinari Wednesday.
The seminar titled "Responsibility of media towards Dal Lake" was organized by news agency "Kashmir News Trust".
A large number of Journalists participated in the seminar. Prominent among them were Farooq Wani, Sanam Ajaz, Raja Mohiuddin, Syed Tajamul, Irfan Qureshi, Nashir Geelani, Sheikh Tajamul, Aqib Ahmed and others.
Farooq Wani, editor Brighter Kashmir said the vandalisation of erstwhile City Forest and its conversion into a Golf Course was the biggest threat to the Lake. Quoting an American scientist, Wani said the Lake’s survival depends of revival of the City Forest which was an important catchment of the Lake. “ For a few moneyed persons who play golf, the government endangered the Lake. The Golf Course must go to ensure revival of the City Forest,” Wani made clear.
Farooq also criticized the government for allowing houseboats in the Lake without taking preventive measures. “The house boats must have special toilets if at all they have to stay in the Lake,” he said.
Wani also said that the government entrusts the job of Dal preservation to non-technical people especially civil engineers. “ It has to be entrusted to scientists and experts,” he said.
The other speakers impressed upon the authorities to take all possible measures to restore the pristine glory of this world famous lake. They said the Dal is the asset of people of Kashmir which has made this place world famous.
"It is really sorry to state that the incumbent VC LAWDA has been showing no interest in deweeding and other processes of Dal. It is collective responsibility but LAWDA is bound to play an important role," the speakers said.
They said if work on the restoration of Dal continues with snail pace, then soon people of Kashmir will lose this precious asset.