Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 22: Dozens of residents of several villages in Sonawari neighbourhood today protested against the Flood Control Department and its contractors, who were working on the restoration of River Jhelum’s bund in the area.
The representatives from villages – Nowgam, Payeen, Zalpora, Gundi Nowgam, Rakhi-Sultanpur and others – raised slogans here at Press Enclave against the callousness of State and called for an intervention at highest level.
“Contractors have used substandard material for the bund restoration near breaches which occurred during the floods September last year,” a local Ghulam Mohammad Insaf said.
The inhabitants of neighbourhood, located in the catchment area of River Jhelum, accused the contractors of using the material from the bund to mend the breaches. “The contractors dug-out bund and protection wall which has weakened the bund over all and can prove fatal during increase in water level,” a protestor mentioned.
The protestors also claimed that there was a threat to the bund which can suffer damage even during heavy snowfall. “We urge the State Vigilance organization to intervene into the matter and expose rot who have jeopardized the safety of the area for financial gains,” Insaf added.
The representatives also said that political interventions need to be stopped in carrying out the developmental works in the area. “If the local politicians continue intervene in the development works, the area will submerge again in near future,” they said.
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