Residents Blame Defunct Drainage System, Demand Dewatering Pumps
Srinagar: The residents of various localities of Kashmir’s capital city Srinagar Friday lamented water logging in the city areas after incessant rains lashed the valley for the last two days.
The residents of Mominabad, Batamaloo, and Bilal Colony Qamarwari expressed resentment against the authorities for failing to provide a proper drainage system in the area saying that it has caused a flood-like situation in their respective areas.
“In absence of drainage facility, lanes and by-lanes are submerged. It has become difficult for us to even venture out of our homes. The snow has started to melt and water has seeped into the foundations of our houses. Walls of various houses have developed cracks,” said Iftikhar Alam, a resident of Qamarwari.
Failure of authorities to construct drainage system in Batamaloo and Qamarwari roads is also taking a heavy toll on the locals.
“We are facing a lot of hardships for the last few months,” the residents said, “a number of times we appealed government but till date our problems are not addressed, it is a total failure of government,” the residents said.
The choked drains in city areas, according to aggrieved locals of various localities, allow waterlogging, resulting in immense hardships to commuters and locals. The residents of Mehjoor Nagar said water logging forced locals to stay indoors.
Locals at other areas like Rambagh said that due to the choking of drains in absence of cleaning, pungent smell has engulfed the area. “We have many times requested the concerned authorities to undertake cleaning of the drains, however, no action has been taken so far,” said Me’raj-ur-Rehman, one of the locals.
Residents of Jawahar Nagar, Bemina and its adjoining areas also complained of water-logging. A senior official of Srinagar Municipal Corporation said that a permanent dewatering station is working “round the clock” for clear city roads.
The residents of both the areas said that they have repeatedly demanded de-watering pumps as the water has entered their homes and damaged the plinth.
They also added that they have repeatedly appealed concerned authorities but no heed is paid to their pleas.
Commissioner SMC Reviews De-watering Exercise
The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Friday started de-watering submerged areas in the early hours of the morning and pressed into the services both the mobile and stationed pumps across the city, particularly at the vulnerable points.
An SMC statement said that following reports of waterlogging, Commissioner SMC Athar Amir Khan took an extensive review on dewatering progress after extensive field visits at different working stations and areas under submergence to take stock of de-watering exercise that is going on constantly because of unprecedented showers.
He visited dewatering stations at Sonwar, Regal Lane, Jehangir Chowk, Nursing Garh, Zampa Kadal, Darish Kadal, Shaheen Colony Palpora, Bemina, Moominabad and Batamaloo.
Commissioner passed on directions to the concerned to keep dewatering stations in full operational mode round the clock and keep the standby diesel/generator sets in a state of readiness at the permanent dewatering stations.
He reiterated both men and machines should work on war footing to ensure no civilian faces any inconvenience due to the rainwater.
The officials apprised Commissioner SMC of the ground situation and the men and machinery in place to dewater inundated areas.
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