Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Apr 22: Dal dwellers are finding hard to battle it out at newly notified wetland-converted-rehabilitation colony at Rakh-e- Arth in Bemina on the outskirts of city as there is no approach road, no proper drainage and no drinking water while there are no traces of promised school and health centre.
With a project cost of nearly Rs. 416.72 crores residential colony spread over 7526 kanals of land, the colony was allotted to rehabilitate the Dal dwellers. Under the project, 2000 plots were supposed to be allocated to the Dal dwellers shifted to save Dal Lake. But, so far, just 200-300 families have been shifted and they accused Government of playing politics over grave issue of environment.
Mohammad Yousuf Chapri, an environmentalist, said the Government has spotted a wet land to setup this colony which is adversely affecting the ecosystem and natural habitats. He castigated Government for going against the nature. “It was failure in the beginning and it is failure now. Here decisions are taken in the kitchen cabinets. It is already a flood prone area”, he said.
Ghulam Hussain Hang, president welfare committee Rakh-e-Arth, said in the year 2009 they were told that a residential colony will be allocated to the Dal dwellers wherein every facility will be provided to them but the Government has shifted them to cesspool which is not fit for living.
“Our houses have developed cracks due to the marsh underlying this newly filled wetland. They have only rolled the upper layer to befool us. The map of the colonies which was shown to us has schools, parks and health centres but so far nothing has been constructed. We are the residents of district Srinagar while as the land belongs to district Budgam which has put our residential-ship into limbo”, he added.
When contacted, Public Relation Officer of Lakes and Waterways Development Authority Srinagar, Nissar Ahmad said the development is under process. “They should not panic. So far we have just spent Rs 107 crores and Rs 400 crores are yet to be spent. Lots of things are yet to be done. It is a comprehensive plan wherein every basic need like healthcare, education and electricity will be provided. But it all depends on the flow of funds,” he said.
When asked about the conversion of wetland into residential colony Ahmad said: “LAWDA is only an executive agency. We implement things. It’s a Government policy and we are supposed to adhere to it. We have also dedicated 1000 kanals to the wetland and green cover where these residents will grow vegetables so that their livelihood is not dented. We have also recommended that special dispensation should be given to these people under various self finance and rural development schemes”.
Executive Engineer LAWDA, V K Kundal, when contacted, claimed that just 4-5 houses have developed cracks which were not constructed in line with the recommended guidelines. “We have clearly told them that they should have raft foundation and even have provided compensation for that. We have also given a chunk- 40 kanals- of land to an NGO who has developed it with prescribed guidelines and it has no negative reports,” he added.
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