The Government has decided to formulate comprehensive conservation projects for twin lakes of Mansar and Surinsar with a special focus on the restoration of the habitats and expansion of green cover in the surroundings of the two prestigious water bodies.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by the Minister for Forests and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmed, to review the functioning of wildlife and forest departments.

The minister said Rs 3 crore had already been earmarked by the Government of India for the conservation of the two lakes, but there was a need to chalk out a long-term planning for their conservation which were facing great threat from climate change and other factors. He asked the department to formulate the projects after proper study and consultation, if needed, so that the project plan on its implementation yields desirable results.

Stressing the need for keeping a provision in the proposed project for the involvement of the public, Mian Altaf said broad-based consultation and inclusion of suggestions from every quarter would go a long way in evolving a comprehensive project plan. He wished to go through the project himself before it was sent to the Government of India for approval.

Earlier, the meeting was informed that Rs 3 crore had been allocated under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Programme for taking up conservation works of the twin lakes. It was made out that so far Rs 86.50 Lakh had been released, out of which Rs 62.50 lakh were expended during the last two years on the execution of various works at the two lakes. The meeting was informed that Plan of Operation of Rs 99.50 Lakh had been prepared for the current year and submitted to the Government of India for the release of funds.

Altaf also directed the Wildlife Department to handover the compensation money to those who became victim to the incidents of man-animal conflict in various parts of the state.

The Minister also asked the wildlife authorities to put in place all measures in the venerable parts of erstwhile Doda district, Poonch and Rajouri to check the incidents of man-animal conflict. He also inquired of the progress made on the proposals of setting up of zoos in twin capitals of Srinagar and Jammu.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests PC Kapoor; Chief Conservator of Forests (Wild Life), Jammu, U Pachnanda; Wildlife Warden, Jammu, Tahir Shawl; and other senior officials were present in the meeting.