Cleaning of Dal Lake in full swing despite unrest

The lakes and water ways development authority (LAWDA) is cleaning the world-famous Dal Lake despite unrest in the Kashmir Valley.

Azolla (aquatic ferns) and weeds have engulfed the lake, which was being ignored all these while due to turmoil.

The corporation is working round the clock to de-weed the world-famous lake. The primary aim of this cleanliness drive is to attract more tourists to the Kashmir Valley and to give a substantial business boost to the city's trading and commercial communities.

"The lake cleaning operation is being carried out throughout the year. There was some hamper due to the turmoil but still we have restored it completely. We have used all our machines. Our object now is to remove nay floating material or debris from the lake," said Imran Nowsheri, Assistant Executive Engineer of LAWDA.

In order to clean the lake from weeds the LAWDA which is the nodal agency started its cleaning operation in which the authority used all its latest machinery.

"The LAWDA authorities are cleaning the lake. They work really hard. The lake now looks like a dump. They are using machines to clear it. Tourism is at stake due to strike," said Shiraz Ahmed, a local resident.

Dal Lake is one of the attractions for the tourists in the Valley. Every year, tourists come from different parts of the country and visit the Dal Lake for Shikara ride.

Presently, the authorities are working round the clock to further beautify the lake. The unrest in Kashmir has led to a whopping loss to the economy of the Kashmir Valley, with tourism businesses being badly hit due to curfew and shutdown from the past two months.