By: Ibni Maqbool
Srinagar: In a significant development, the administration of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory has constituted a committee to scrutinize the proposal of re-organisation of Lakes and Waterways Development Authority(LAWDA).
The Housing & Urban Development Department (HUDD) has constituted a three-member committee comprising deputy commissioner Srinagar, Vice-chairman LAWDA and Financial Advisor/ Chief Accounts Officer LAWDA to submit its recommendations to the administrative department after scrutinizing the proposal of re-organisation of LAWDA.
Talking to The Precious Kashmir, VC, LAWDA, Bashir Ahmad Bhat said the committee will sit and finalise its recommendations on the proposal. “The re-organisation proposal was submitted to the government before I joined LAWDA,” he said.
The LAWDA was created as an autonomous body for managing and conserving the waterbodies and waterways in Jammu & Kashmir. It was set-up on April 11, 1997 under The Jammu and Kashmir Development Act-1970. The Authority is mandate to conserve and manage the world famous Dal and Nigeen lakes in Srinagar.
It is also vested with powers under J&K Control of Building Operations Act, 1988 for regulation of building activities in the local jurisdictional area. Under this activity, building permissions are granted to any desirous person by following a well laid out procedure as per the standing norms.
The Authority through its enforcement wing keeps a close watch on the possible violation of building norms and encroachments in the jurisdictional area allotted to it.
It carries out special demolition drives in co-ordination with police and district administration to discourage people from resorting to illegal constructional activity.
