Srinagar, Feb. 28 -- Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K. Pole Saturday assured that illegal constructions that have come up in and around the Khushalsar and Gilsar lakes in Srinagar will be removed shortly.

Div Com while lamenting over the 'deteriorated' condition of these small lakes, which are connected to each other via narrow strait spanned by a bridge known as Gilkadal, said both these water-bodies are in a pathetic condition.

He also said that there are no traces these being anything like lakes, nor do the bird 'Gill' from which came the name Gilsar, exist anymore. Both these lakes are highly polluted and encroached upon with illegal constructions and land-filling at many places.

"Demarcation of both Khushalsar and Gils...