J&K Government Scraps ₹416-Crore Dal Lake Resettlement Project for In-Situ Eco-Hamlet Model
The Jammu and Kashmir government has officially abandoned a 17-year-old resettlement plan for Dal Lake dwellers, which had achieved only 27% progress since its inception in 2009. Originally conceived to relocate 9,000 families to preserve the lake's ecosystem, the project faced implementation hurdles and a lack of basic infrastructure at resettlement sites. The government has now shifted to an 'in-situ conservation' model, where 58 existing hamlets within the lake will be developed as 'eco-hamlets.' This new approach, recommended by a high-level committee, recognizes dwellers as an integral part of the lake's vibrant ecosystem while focusing on sewerage networks and modular treatment plants.
Key Points
- The original ₹416.72-crore resettlement plan was approved in 2009 but failed to meet its objectives over nearly two decades.
- The new policy replaces relocation with the development of 58 'eco-hamlets' within the water body.
- A high-level committee headed by the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir recommended the shift, viewing dwellers as essential to the lake's character.
- Infrastructure focus has shifted to the 'Integrated Management Programme for conservation of Dal-Nigeen Lake ecosystem' worth ₹212.38 crore.
Exam Facts
- The original project was approved in 2009 and achieved only 27% progress in 17 years.
- The new plan involves developing 58 existing hamlets as eco-hamlets.
- A ₹212.38-crore project for Dal-Nigeen conservation has been accepted in principle by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
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