Authorities launch demolition drive around Dal Lake

Authorities today launched a demolition drive around Dal Lake here to remove encroachments and illegal constructions which have come up during the past three weeks under the garb of prevailing law-and-order situation in the Valley.
The enforcement wings of the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority and Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) have launched the drive in various parts of the city, especially around Dal Lake to remove encroachments, an official spokesman said.
He said the development authority, assisted by police, kick-started demolition drive around Dal Lake and removed several encroachments which had come up illegally in the area recently.
A demolition drive was carried out at Northern Foreshore Road, Habbak, Akhoon Mohalla and Lashkari Mohalla areas in the periphery of Dal Lake as various illegal constructions had come up in the prohibited area, the spokesman said.

He said the development authority intends to carry out series of such drives in the coming days to ensure effective implementation of the orders of the High Court that no construction should be allowed in the 200 meter periphery of the lake, a major attraction for tourists visiting the Valley.
The drive started a day after moderate Hurriyat Conference expressed serious concern over the reports of unauthorised and illegal constructions at various places especially on the Dal and foreshore road and warned those indulging in such activities to stop their activities immediately.
The Hurriyat had also asked the people to take such"shameless" people to task.