Shadow Correspondent
Srinagar, JUne 25:
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today chaired the 27th Board of Directors meeting of the Jammu & Kashmir Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) at SKICC to review the progress of ongoing conservation initiatives and deliberate on policy, administrative and infrastructure-related matters concerning the Dal, Nigeen, Khushalsar and Gilsar lakes.
The meeting was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary Finance Shailendra Kumar, Commissioner Secretary Forests, Environment and Ecology Sheetal Nanda, Commissioner Secretary Housing and Urban Development Mandeep Kaur and other senior officers.
The Board reviewed the action taken on decisions of its previous meeting and assessed the progress of major conservation and restoration initiatives, including the Integrated Management Plan for the Dal-Nigeen lake ecosystem, eco-development of lake hamlets, sewerage infrastructure, lake cleaning operations and other measures aimed at improving the ecological health of the lakes. Emphasizing that conservation of Jammu
CM Omar Abdullah
and Kashmir’s lakes requires sustained institutional coordination, scientific planning and timely execution, the Chief Minister directed the concerned departments and the Authority to expedite ongoing projects while ensuring strict compliance with environmental safeguards and statutory procedures.
The meeting held detailed deliberations on agenda items relating to strengthening the Authority, modernization of sewerage management systems, conservation of Khushalsar and Gilsar lakes, and enhancement of institutional capacity. The Chief Minister directed that proposals requiring further examination and refinement be revised and resubmitted after incorporating the observations made during the deliberations.
Reaffirming the Government’s commitment to preserving the fragile lake ecosystem, the Chief Minister stressed that conservation efforts must be guided by scientific assessment, environmental sustainability and long-term public interest.
He also called for regular monitoring of ongoing works and close inter-departmental coordination to ensure tangible improvements in the conservation and management of Jammu and Kashmir’s lakes.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today oversaw the official resumption of the Gulmarg Gondola service, marking the full restoration of operations after a temporary suspension.
The Chief Minister took a Gondola ride to Phase-I at Kongdoori, where he personally inspected the system and reviewed the extensive restoration works undertaken following a recent technical malfunction.
During the visit, officials from the J&K Cable Car Corporation briefed the Chief Minister on the technical specifics of the restoration and the stringent safety audits conducted before clearing the service for public use.
Expressing his appreciation for the dedication of the entire corporation staff, the Chief Minister lauded their round-the-clock efforts in restoring this vital infrastructure project—one of the country’s premier tourist attractions—within a remarkably short span of time. To honor their exceptional service, the Chief Minister announced a reward of ?50,000 for each official and crew member who participated in the swift relief and rescue operations during the technical glitch in May.
During the visit, the Chief Minister was accompanied by Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Gulmarg Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Senior Superintendent of Police Baramulla, Managing Director of the J&K Cable Car Corporation Syed Qamar Sajad, the CEO of the Gulmarg Development Authority, and other senior officers.
