All about J&K Lakes and Waterways Development Authority -LCMA

According to the Development Act 1970, the Government of J&K established an autonomous body called LAWDA (Lakes and Waterways Development Authority) tasked with overseeing, managing, and conserving J&K’s waterways and water bodies. It was renamed Jammu and Kashmir Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) on November 3, 2021, by the lieutenant governor of the Union Territory.

Table of Contents

Primary objectives of J&K LCMA

It is the responsibility of LCMA (LAWDA) to protect and manage the world-renowned Dal and Nigeen Lakes in Kashmir. The conservation and management of Dal-Nigeen Lake are divided into two parts:

Conservation and Management, and
Rehabilitation and Resettlement of Dal dwellers.

As part of its mandate, the LAWDA is charged with promoting and securing the growth of the local area and the conservation of Dal Lake, Anchaar lake and Nigeen lake, disposing of land and other properties, undertaking construction and engineering activities, and carrying out work related to water and electricity supply.

List of services provided by J&K LCMA

Sewage collection
Solid waste collection
Removal of weeds
Catchment management
Shoreline development
Recreational facilities
Permission for construction purposes
Resettlement and rehabilitation
Removal of landmasses, radhs, floating gardens
Generation of scientific data
Removal of encroachments
Issuing of permissions for carrying out constructional material
Public awareness

Dal Lake conservation efforts J&K LCMA

Among the most notable aspects of the most recent conservation programme are:

The planting of trees and the preservation of soil in catchment areas,
The construction of a basin to collect debris and sediments from the catchment areas,
The marginal dredging of all marshy areas,
The protection of the environment by diverting sewage and drainage from settlements on the lake’s periphery and the installation of a sewage treatment plant,
The creation of green buffer areas along the lake’s shoreline.

Rehabilitation and resettlement of Dal lake dwellers

The lake remains the subject of conservation efforts due to the residents’ unwillingness to relocate away from the lake, on which they rely for economic existence. The state government partnering with J&K LCMA has already allocated 2,200 plots to Dal residents as part of an initiative to relocate them from the lake and provide them with other places to live.

Building permission services

Under the J&K Control of Building Operations Act, 1988, the government has entrusted the J&K LCMA (LAWDA) with authority to regulate building operations in the local jurisdiction. Permits to construct buildings are provided under this activity to any suitable person who follows a well-defined process following established standards.

Document Checklist

Site Plan /Building Plan
Title Verification from Tehsildar (Revenue Extracts)
Photograph and Signature of Applicant
ID Proof

Mission and Vision of J&K LCMA

The mission of the Dal/Nigeen Lakes Restoration Project is to preserve the lakes’ unique features, economic potential, and drinking water supply for the residents of Srinagar, Kashmir, by restoring the biological balance of the lakes. As a result, the following are addressed in the Conservation and Management Plan:

To reduce the silt load in the catchment region through proper treatment.
Lake inhabitants will be relocated, and floating gardens will be removed as part of a plan to decrease pollution. Untreated sewage and solid garbage will also be stopped from entering the lake from the surrounding regions and the lake hamlets, Houseboats, and agricultural return flow.
Opening congested outfall canals to enhance water flow.
During a dry spell, the lake’s freshwater supply has to be increased.
To reduce weed development by removing lake bed silt rich in nutrients.
To repopulate the lake with new species.
To acquire information for a scientific investigation.

The LCMA aims to preserve and maintain Dal/Nageen Lakes for current and future generations by working together with the locals.

Grievance redressal mechanism LCMA

Any individual may file a grievance/complaint with any person, including the Vice-Chairman; Secretary; I/c Subordinate Divisions, including the Superintending Engineer; Executive Engineers, Collector, Watershed Manager, and Enforcement Officer. The grievance/complaint may be made in writing, by postal service, email, telephone, mobile, fixed-line, or SMS, among other methods.

According to the Right to Information Act, the general public may also request information from any PIO by submitting a written request specifying the information sought and paying the relevant fee in the manner provided by the Act. Once a grievance/complaint is submitted, swift action is taken by forwarding it to the appropriate wing for a thorough investigation.

Apart from resolving complaints received through the Government’s centralised grievance cell, the Authority maintains a single point of contact that acts as a connecting connection between the complainant and the J&K LCMA. The telephone number is 9469006688, and WhatsApp messages may be sent to the same number.