Mir Iqbal
Aarigantoo, Kulgam, Jan 16: While the residents of Aarigantoo village in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district are yet to come out of the shock after last year’s devastating floods, which rendered 250 families homeless, the fear of yet another flood haunts them.
Being among the worst flood hit victims in the Valley, the residents told Excelsior they feared that the village could possibly face a similar devastating flood in near future because the Government has failed to construct a concrete embankment along the Veshu stream, the main cause of the raging floods in September last year.
Recalling the day when the stream, overflowing with the rainwater, rushed into the habitation, Mushtaq Ahmad Naikoo, a resident of the village said the stream eroded the bund, made of loosely-connected boulders, changed its course and destroyed 250 houses completely, others partially and washed away fertile orchard land.
The Government raised an iron-crated bund of boulders along the stream to prevent a September-like flood, but Naikoo said that such bunds were not enough to protect them from flooding.
“We fear the Veshu Nallah will sweep the whole village again like it did in September once the snow melts on upper reaches, followed by rains and rise in temperature in the month of March,” he said, adding, the temporary bund can’t help the poor villagers from its fury.
Wary of the stream’s furious waters, the villagers said that they don’t want to build permanent houses unless the Government raises a concrete and flawless embankment along the stream.
“I don’t want to construct my house again here. I want to live in temporary shed. The Veshu nallah can sweep our homes anytime,” said Farooq Ahmad, who lost his house to the floods. “Why to take risk when experts have cautioned us?”, he asked.
Engineering experts who had visited the village after the devastation had warned the villagers that a little rise in water level can sweep their whole settlement if a concrete bund was not constructed.
“Some engineers after visiting the village have cautioned us that presently Veshu stream was flowing some 70 feet above the village level and a little rainfall could become trouble for its inhabitants,” Naikoo said.
He said the issue seems so grave that these experts have warned the villagers to pressurize the authorities for construction of concrete and not mesh wiring bund at Kutbal area on priority basis.
Naikoo, also the Chairman of Relief Committee in the village accused the Government for its non-seriouness. “The Government preferred loose construction works instead of strong embankment, that can devastate whole area again,” he said.
Naikoo flanked by other villagers accused the authorities for remaining in hibernation despite knowing the fact that its people including children have been worst hit both financially as well as psychologically. “Why government is not serious for our safety despite knowing the fact that whole village is at risk?” they said.
Of the 350 houses, 250 were completely damaged, but Government compensated them with paltry sums.
“Government disbursed Rs 75,000 to those families, whose concrete houses were completely damaged, Rs 17,000 to damaged Kaccha houses and released Rs 12,500 to the families whose houses have developed cracks,” they added.
The visibly fearful villagers said they have lived here all their life, and so have their ancestors and now young generation, but after floods and government’s ill treatment it seems the whole village has to shift some “unknown”, but safer place to live peacefully.
“We lost everything in the village. We want a peaceful place to live,” they said, adding, “We don’t know where to live now,” they added.
The inhabitants demanded that a concrete bund should be constructed under proper supervision with quality work to ensure its strength.
They also alleged that from the beginning, the government didn’t take the threat seriously, and now it allowed construction of weak bund here, which not only exposed its hollow claims, but was doing a blunder on its side.
This chaos and confusion not only hampered the permanent construction works in the village, but also led many of the inhabitants into the trauma. “Post-flood response to save village from such tragedy seems even worse,” they said.
The flood-hit inhabitants also criticized the religious bodies for giving meager financial relief to them. “The Shrine management and Auqaf committee of Kulgam provided a paltry sum as financial help to us despite collecting crores of rupees as donation and charity from people,” they said.
People praised Darul Uloom Rahemiya Bandipora for constructing more than 65 sheds in the village. “We are also thankful to some NGO’s which played vital role for our rehabilitation,” the villagers said.
The inhabitants also alleged that only some selected families were given monthly rent by government, while as most of the families were left out. “Only 30 families got monthly rent of Rs 6000 for three months, while as others are still waiting for the money,” they said.
A woman in her late 40’s while sitting in a medical shop to treat her chest infection said the floods have not only devastated their property but affected their health too. “Since the day village was buried under rubble, I don’t sleep properly nor I feel well,” she said.
Mohammad Saleem Beigh, who runs a medical shop in the village from last 17 years, said that the chest infection was common here due to the direct contact with flood affected goods and dust blown for debris. “People have become aggressive here and have now less tolerance,” he said. “This is all because of trauma”.
Deputy Commissioner Kulgam Nissar Hussain Wani said that he has requested Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khanday to direct concerned officials to construct strong bunds at Zangalpora and Kutbal which can ensure the safety of the village. “Chief Secretary after visiting the village directed the concerned officials to ensure the strength of bund,” he said.
He said work was going on its construction and crate was used. However, DC was quick to add that it was not the final work. “Wherever it needs concrete embankments, we will go for it,” he said.
He also said that compensation was disbursed to the affected families. Timber, blankets and free ration were also provided to them. “We have also sent the proposal to higher authorities for shifting of the village to some safer destination. And we are waiting for its response,” he said.
On increasing health problems, DC said that medical camps were organized and if the need arises he was ready to sent medical teams to the village.
“House rent was also disbursed into the accounts of some 30 families in the village,” he said.
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