Srinagar, Feb 9: After years of dilly-dallying, the state Government has finally decided to realign the houseboats in the Dal lake in a bid to improve aesthetic beauty and extend expanse of the famed waterbody, which has been marred by extensive pollution and encroachments.
 It was in 2006 that the High Court monitoring Dal Conservation Project had directed the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) to realign the houseboats in Dal.
 “The vice-chairperson LAWDA is directed to take immediate steps and comply with the Court directions in this regard and also to utilize the good offices of president of Houseboat Owners Association and its office bearers for voluntary removal of encroachments, unauthorized structures for realignment of houseboats in this area of Dal. If voluntary efforts fail, the LAWDA shall take immediate steps to remove the encroachments, illegal structures on its own,” the Court had maintained in its judgment.
 However, LAWDA despite getting assistance of police and paramilitary soldiers, during past four years failed to execute the Court order due to stiff resistance from the houseboats owners triggering violent clashes in the Dal.
 Officials said threadbare negotiation with the chairman of Houseboats Owners Association and its senior functionaries, has paved way for launching the realignment of houseboats from its last row. However, the nod for the realignment has come with a rider of “proper rehabilitation”. 
 The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development Nasir Sogami told Greater Kashmir that the realignment of houseboats would increase water expanse of Dal. “It was a long pending issue and we have amicably resolved it with the Houseboat (Owners) Association. The houseboats will move 400 metres backwards and we will remove the landmass around them,” he said.
 “This will increase the lake area. We are committed to provide the relocated houseboat owners with basic amenities including the scientific disposal of sewage,” Sogami added. 
 The Vice-Chairperson of LAWDA, Irfan Yasin said in the first phase 34 houseboats would be realigned along the Western Foreshore Road. “The systematic realignment of houseboats will facilitate connecting of its toilets with our Sewage Treatment Plants. Besides stopping influx of houseboat sewage, the realignment will help in improving the aesthetic beauty of the Dal,” Yasin said.
 He said the Minister for Housing and Urban Development and chairperson LAWDA, Tara Chand has directed the officials to undertake the realignment before the tourism season to prevent loss to the houseboat owners and inconvenience to the tourists.   
 The Chairman of Houseboat Owners Association, Manzoor Ahmad Wangnoo hailed the government decision to realign the houseboats. “The government has promised us that realignment will provide the relocated houseboat owners with all the basic facilities including hygienic kitchens, bathrooms, servant quarter and plots at Rakh-e-Arth and compensation for those who have proprietary rights of the landmass,” Wangnoo said.
 He said a delegation led by the Minister of Tourism, Rigzwin Jora, the junior minister Nasir Sogami and LAWDA chief, Irfan Yasin, a few days ago met the houseboats owners and took on-the-spot decision for proper rehabilitation of the houseboat owners.
 “We are grateful to both the ministers and officials for taking on-the-spot decisions. We assure them that for conservation of Dal, we will extend full support,” Wangnoo said.
“The government has promised us that realignment will provide the relocated houseboat owners with all the basic facilities including hygienic kitchens, bathrooms, servant quarter and plots at Rakh-e-Arth and compensation for those who have proprietary rights of the landmass”

Lastupdate on : Wed, 9 Feb 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 9 Feb 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 10 Feb 2011 00:00:00 IST