Context
After a gap of 33 years, Manasbal Lake is once again open for training drills after raging militancy forced the Navy to abandon it.
- The Training area was suspended during the inception of militancy in the 1990s.
Key-points
- Over 100 National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets, both from J&K and outside, participated in exercises like sailing and boat pulling.
- The NCC has been working in J&K since 1965 and would train cadets on the shores of Dal lake and Manasbal Lake.
- The security situation had forced us to shift the training module outside the Valley.
- The exercises, which also saw participation of female cadets, may help students from various parts of J&K interact with each other.
- Such exercises here will motivate locals to join the NCC in the future.
About Manasbal Lake
- The Manasbal Lake, located in central Kashmir's Safapora area in Ganderbal district.
- It’s a freshwater lake with picturesque hills and pristine waters.
- The Mughal Garden, called the Jaroka Bagh, (meaning bay window) built by Nur Jahan overlooks the lake.
- Biodiversity: The lake is a good place for birdwatching.
- Flora: macrophytes and phytoplankton.
- Fauna: zooplankton, benthos and fish.
- Issues: Eutrophication (nutrient-induced increase in phytoplankton productivity) and pollution.
Other lakes in Kashmir
- Dal Lake,
- Wular Lake,
- Tarsar-Marsar Lakes
About NCC
- The NCC was formed in 1948 on the recommendation of H. N. Kunzru Committee (1946).
- It is the youth wing of the Indian Armed Forces as a Tri-Services Organisation, comprising the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.
- NCC is the world’s largest uniformed youth volunteer service organization.
- Headquarters are in New Delhi, India.
- The NCC cadets undergo basic military training at various levels and as well as academic curriculum basics related to the Armed forces and their functioning.
- It is open to school and college students on a voluntary basis.
- The NCC falls under the purview of the Ministry of Defence and is headed by a Director-General of three-star military rank.
- The objective of NCC is to develop the youth of the country into disciplined and patriotic citizens.
- The emblem of the NCC consists of 3 colours; red, dark blue and light blue representing the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force respectively.
- The 17 lotuses indicate the 17 directories of India.
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