Geologists, conservationists to be invited to revitalise Dal & Khajjiar lakes: Govt

Kullu: Experts will be roped in and adequate measures will be taken to rejuvenate Dal Lake in Dharamshala and Khajjiar Lake in Chamba, deputy chief whip Kewal Singh Pathania said Wednesday.
Chairing a meeting with tourism and forest dept officials, Pathania said at the behest of the CM, they have proposed to consult world-renowned conservationists and geological experts to conduct a study on Dal Lake, which is rapidly depleting.
This, he said, is affecting both its aquatic life and overall beauty.
He said since 2004, about Rs 31 lakh has been spent on the beautification of Dal Lake by both the forest and the irrigation and public health (IPH) department.
Stating that local activists have also stepped in to save its aquatic life by shifting the fish to other water bodies nearby, Pathania said even the Kangra deputy commissioner was in touch with the Lake Man of India, Anand Malligavad, to find a permanent and long-lasting solution to prevent the lake from drying up.
The help of a few other experts will also be sought to understand the reason behind this unusual phenomenon, he said.
Sincere efforts would be made to revitalise both the Dal Lake and the Khajjiar lake, situated at an altitude of 1,951 metres, he reiterated. Experts will be asked to conduct a scientific study of Khajjiar Lake as well, which is named after the local deity Khajji Nag.