Image Source: TRIBUNE

The Administrative Council, which met under the chairmanship of Lieutenant-Governor GC Murmu, approved policy guidelines for registration, renewal and operation of houseboats in the Dal and Nigeen lake. The council decided that the guidelines should conform to the overall framework of Dal conservation framed by the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) besides an appropriate legal framework would also be instituted for enforcing the policy. The decision would help to regulate the functioning and operation of houseboats in both the water bodies and to preserve the lakes for future generations by adopting sustainable tourism, preventing pollution of the lakes, besides providing conducive and pleasant atmosphere for tourists on one hand, and sustainable source of living for the houseboat owners or shikara wallas and other stakeholders on the other hand. The government has taken the step for conservation of the two lakes in compliance with the directions of the High Court and suggestions made by the Committee of Experts (CoE) on the Dal and Nigeen lake. As per the policy guidelines, no new houseboat would be allowed to be constructed in the Dal/Nigeen lake.

Sanction to transfer land

The Administrative Council also accorded sanction to the transfer of Shamlat (kahcharai) land measuring 40 kanals situated at Drugmulla village in Kupwara district to the School Education Department for establishing Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kupwara. It accorded sanction to the transfer of 40 kanals of land to the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction for establishing transit accommodation for Kashmiri Migrant Government Employees under the PM Package at Deegam village in Shopian district.

Two CIIITs to be set up in J&K

In a significant decision to strengthen industry-academia partnership and to bring qualitative improvements in technical education, the council also accorded sanction to the establishment of two Centres for Invention, Innovation, Incubation and Training (CIIITs) in Jammu and Kashmir. The Centre in Kashmir division shall be established at Government Polytechnic, Baramulla, and the location for the establishment of the CIIIT in Jammu division shall be finalised soon.