Sukhomajri (Kalka), July 27
Even as Punjab and the Chandigarh administration are yet to come out with a concrete plan to save the Sukhna Lake, Haryana today launched a five-year “Save Sukhna” campaign.

After launching the campaign from this nondescript village, Haryana Forest Minister Ajay Singh Yadav said his state would spend over Rs 9 crore on constructing check dams and afforestation, which would not only reduce the sedimentation of the famous water body but would also help in recharging the subsoil water.

Earlier, after a series of reports by The Tribune on the issue, Yadav had promised to initiate steps to save the lake.

Yadav said the catchment area of the Sukhna in Haryana was about 1,055 hectares, which was one-fourth of the total catchment area of the lake. He said the soil in the Shivaliks lacked in organic humus and its moisture-retention capacity was very low, making it extremely susceptible to erosion. To arrest the sediment load and to prolong the lake’s life, Haryana would take soil conservation measures over the next five years.

When pointed out that 54 dams had already been constructed in the area, most of which had become nonexistent due to the lack of maintenance by the Forest Department, Yadav said a special grant would be given for the maintenance of the dams. He expressed gratitude to the media for raising the issue of the lake, which, he said, inspired the state government to take an initiative to save it.