The Weir at Chattabal is expected to be ready by spring this year, due to which the water level in Jheulm can be raised. This means the flow of its spill channels, the Sonar Kul and the Kuta Kul, can also be raised and so that the water bodies can be connected for navigation with the Dal Lake.
 Given the traffic congestion on the City streets, I think the government should make the best use of water navigation through motorboats. The motorboats can run from Nishat, Hazratbal, Saida Kadal, Saderbal, Baghwan Pora, Rainawari, Nowpora and Dalgate. From Dalgate, the link ahead to Jhelum can be connected via the Tchuntu Kul.
 On the other hand the navigation in Jhelum could be started from Pampore to Safa Kadal area.
 Likewise, Kutkul could provide motorboat facility  for Shahr-e-Khaas areas like Safa Kadal, Kani Kadal and Habba Kadal. Even the SHMS hospital which is on the banks of the canal and LD Hospital on Jheulm banks can be connected via the waterways.
 Generation of funds for the project won’t be that big a job. To revive the SRTC, the government can make the corporation procure some motorboats and make it ply in the Dal and the Jhelum waters. To start with, motorboats can be procured by selling some old SRTC buses.
 Besides, financial institutions like JK Bank, can provide loans to the Dal dwellers to procure motorboats. And once the business picks up, more and more people will jump into the trade.
 As with regard to the movement of the boats, particularly in the Dal, some routes can be specified so that the motorboats don’t interfere with other activities like in tourism in the Dal. In the longer run, LAWDA could impose some toll tax on the movement of the boats and utilize the funds for the lake conservation. Besides, when there will be regular public movement in the Dal, encroachments there, could be checked in a better way.
 And as the government plans to shift the lake dwellers in the coming years, their relocation could be managed better through water medium. Even at the time of the dismantling of the hutments in the Dal, there would be no requirement of trucks or tippers as the motorboats could be used for the same.
 I think water transportation is the best alternative. Ours is a poor state and so the construction of expressways in the City seems to be distant dream. So, instead of the wide roads, let’s opt for the water navigation and get rid of traffic jams.

Abdul Hamid Bhat
Shah Abad Colony near Central Jail Srinagar
The Srinagarite is a Driver with City Drainage Division.
( The ideas expressed are author's own

Lastupdate on : Tue, 2 Feb 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 2 Feb 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 3 Feb 2010 00:00:00 IST