On Wednesday, November 3, the Jammu and Kashmir administration renamed the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) as the Jammu and Kashmir Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA).
Which act has influenced the administration to change its name?
By the order of the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, the Housing and Development Department issued the notification accomplishing reform by the department under the powers conferred to the government by Jammu and Kashmir Development Act, 1970.
LCMA is an autonomous body
According to the official website, LAWDA which has been renamed LCMA is an autonomous body generated to serve as one-point agency to look after, manage and conserve the water bodies and waterways of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
What does the act say?
As per the reports obtained by GNS news, “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Jammu and Kashmir Development Act, 1970 (Act XIX of 1970), the Government hereby re-name Lakes and Waterways Development Authority constituted vide notification SRO 109 of 1997 dated 27.03.1997 as Jammu and Kashmir Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) for all purposes of the said Act.”
Congress leader insisted to change the name after getting trolled
In October 2021, later getting trolled on social media platforms, the insistence to replace the name of the government authority came from Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
In a tweet Singhvi conveyed, “Although not a big fan of name change, I’ll do a Bhajpa here and request the J&K authorities to change / slightly amend the name of Lakes and Waterways Development Authority.”
Facebook username still not changed
Moreover, the website of the organisation did not use the word LAWDA, it refers to the organisation as JK LDA.
And, due to some reason, the Facebook page of the organisation calls itself LAWDA, even though its username is JKLDA and it was also used in official communications like, delicate notices uploaded on the website use this acronym, whereas at other places LDA is used.