Srinagar, March 31 -- The Jammu and Kashmir government has started the process of developing eco-hamlets in Kashmir's iconic Dal Lake instead of relocating families from the lake, reeling from decades of pollution and encroachments.

The development comes as the government discontinued the relocation of families from Dal Lake as a conservation policy after the Lakes Conservation Management Authority(LCMA) managed to shift only 3,108 families from inside the Dal Lake to various housing colonies in Srinagar achieving rehabilitation target of just 27% in 36 years owing to voluntary provision of acquisition, the documents presented by J&K government in the assembly have revealed.

The drive to relocate the people living on the lake was starte...