Tauseef Ahmad
Srinagar, Apr 24: Authorities on Thursday said key eco-tourism initiatives, including the Wular Walk and lakeside pathway projects at Wular Lake, will be completed within this year, as the government intensifies efforts to restore and conserve the lake’s fragile ecosystem while promoting sustainable tourism and local livelihoods reported Kashmir Despatch.
Chief Executive Director of WUCMA and Chief Conservator of Forests Kashmir, Irfan Rasool Wani conducted an extensive visit to the lake to review ongoing conservation and developmental works at multiple locations.
Accompanied by senior officials, he inspected works on the ground and reviewed their progress, directing executing agencies to ensure quality standards and adhere to timelines.
Highlighting priority interventions, Wani said projects such as the Wular Walk way,eco-tourism parks and pathway development are being fast-tracked and are targeted for completion by the end of this year.
He also said that dredging of an additional three square kilometres will be taken up over the next three years to further improve the lake’s ecological health and water management.
“We have restored 5 sq km’s of Wular lake in our restoration process and are planning restoration of three more km’s within next two or three years.”
During the visit, he inspected under-construction eco-parks at Banyari, SK Payeen and Garoora, and reviewed the progress of walkway works being executed by the R&B Division Bandipora. He stressed that these eco-friendly spaces will help promote environmental awareness and responsible tourism.
Wani also interacted with eco-guides at SK Payeen, emphasizing the need to involve local youth in conservation efforts and create livelihood opportunities through eco-tourism. He assured that WUCMA will extend full support to such initiatives.
He further said that 20 nature-cum-knowledge centres have been established in schools around Wular to strengthen environmental education among students, with more centres planned.
Reiterating WUCMA’s commitment, he said conservation of the lake requires active community participation, adding that restoration efforts are also yielding economic benefits, with ₹25 crore generated from willow resources so far reported Kashmir Despatch.
