In a major step toward restoring Srinagar’s urban water heritage, the Nigeen Lake Conservation Organisation (NLCO) recently held a pivotal Core Group meeting to lay out a scientific and sustainable roadmap for the revival of Gilsar and Khushalsar lakes. These ecologically significant but long-neglected water bodies were recently handed over to the Jammu & Kashmir Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LCMA) for dedicated conservation.
Bringing together environmentalists, urban planners, psychiatrists, educationists, and civil society members, the meeting was hailed as a timely intervention aimed at reversing decades of damage.
NLCO Chairman Manzoor Ahmad Wangnoo stressed the importance of a sustained commitment:
"We cannot afford to treat our lakes as seasonal projects. Gilsar and Khushalsar need continuous, science-based, and community-driven restoration. This handover to LCMA is a historic opportunity, and we must all rise above tokenism to ensure success."
Former Forest Department official Farooq Gillani (IFS Retd.) echoed the sentiment, calling the move “long overdue” and adding, “With LCMA’s professional expertise, we now have a real chance for revival.”
While acknowledging the deployment of a Watermaster dredger at Khushalsar, experts urged scaling up the restoration work. The group called for additional dredging equipment, scientific planning, and constant monitoring to tackle siltation and degradation.
Urban Planner Er. Iajaz Naqshbandi cautioned:
"Demarcation is critical, but it must be guided by solid hydrological principles. Poorly planned actions could enable further encroachments rather than stopping them."
Adding a social and emotional dimension to the discussion, psychiatrist Dr. Mushtaq Margoob said:
"These lakes are not just environmental concerns—they are part of our identity. Their revival can heal both our environment and our collective psyche."
Civil society leaders and educationists emphasized the importance of public participation and awareness—particularly at the school level—to ensure long-term success.
Notable participants included Dr. Farooq Ahmad Peer (Former Secretary, JKBOSE), Nisar Ahmad (Principal, Bilaliya Educational Institute), Riaz Wangnoo (Managing Committee Member, NLCO), and Touseef Bhat (Social Activist and Special Invitee).
The NLCO pledged to submit a detailed memorandum to higher authorities, demanding expedited dredging, scientific lakefront planning, and robust community engagement.
The meeting concluded with a unified resolution:
"With collective will, scientific knowledge, and community spirit, we can restore Gilsar and Khushalsar and return them to their rightful place at the heart of Srinagar."