‘50 truckloads of garbage lifted’
Srinagar: In a major drive to clean up Brari Nambal lagoon, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation today removed 100 encroachments/shanties and evacuated 500 rag-pickers illegally occupying a huge patch of the lagoon land. These illegal encroachments and the occupants were posing a grave threat to the lagoon.
According to a statement issued to KNS, a spokesman of the SMC has said that the drive, which started since last evening, involved around 250 SMC workers, including sweepers and other officials, to not only destroy the illegal constructions but also clear up the debris to restore the land to its old glory. At least fifty truckloads of garbage was lifted from in and around lagoon area.
The daylong drive was overseen by SMC commissioner Dr G N Qasba and LAWWDA vice chairman Irfan Yasin. Both the SMC and the LAWWA are charting joint plans to evict the illegal occupants and maintain sanitation in and around the Brari Nambal lagoon. Several dozers and JCB were put into action to remove the encroachments. Later, water sprinklers were pressed into service. “We had forewarned people that no encroachment on the lagoon will be tolerated. The exercise is an ongoing operation. No one would be allowed to set up any kind of structure in and around Brari Nambal,” said Dr Qasba.
The commissioner reiterated the pledge that the SMC will put all efforts to ensure a clean and sanitised lagoon. He once again appealed to people, who have appreciated the efforts of the SMC to clean up the lagoon, to ensure to one comes up with any structure at the lagoon. The SMC operation was also monitored by Chief Encroachment Officer Nissar Ahmad Shah and Chief Sanitation Officer Manzoor Ahmad Tarray including all the sanitation and enforcement officers. (KNS)