Flood Control Dept ‘forgets’ its demolition deadline

Rifat Mohidin

Srinagar, December 16

The Department of Flood Control in Kashmir seems to have forgotten its own three-day deadline to residents of Srinagar for removing illegal constructions on the embankments of the Jehlum river.

Even as more than 10 days have passed after the notice was shot to the residents, no action has been taken so far by the department.

In the first week of December, the Department of Irrigation and Flood Control shot notices to the residents of Srinagar who have encroached upon the embankments of the Jhelum river in the areas of Rajbagh and Jawahar Nagar giving them three-day deadline to dismantle the structures built on the embankments of the river. The residents who took the notice lightly did not remove the constructions and on the other hand the department also failed to act on its own notice and did not take any action.

The move came after the worst floods hit Kashmir in September this year and the J&K High Court directed the authorities to enforce laws by removing all encroachments along the course of the Jhelum, which many believed became one of the reasons for floods in Srinagar.

On being asked why the structure were not demolished even after the deadline, the officials said they feared there might be a law and order problem due to the ongoing elections that’s why they have given more time to people.

“We just wanted there should be no law and order problem. Hence we gave more time to people. The demolition drive is still going on the outskirts of Srinagar. We have demolished illegal structures in Barzulla and other parts of the city,” an official said.

“Whoever we have sent notice to those structures will be demolished which are on the embankments of the Jhelum,” said Javaid Jafer, Chief Engineer of the Flood Control Department, Kashmir.

Many believe that continuous encroachment of the Jhelum became one of the reasons of floods in Srinagar. Illegal constructions have been taking place on full swing on the banks of the river which passes through Anantnag, Srinagar, Bandipora and Baramulla districts.

The illegal structures have also come up on the banks of Jhelum in Civil Lines and the old city of Srinagar near Cement Bridge, Chattabal, Habbakadal and Drab Yaar.

Several shops and buildings and hotels have come up in Rajbagh and adjoining areas in the tertiary of water body or on the embankments.