Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 22: Members from almost all political parties today expressed concern in the Legislative Assembly over unsatisfactory condition of the drainage system in the twin capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar.
Immediately after Minister of State for Housing & Urban Development Social Welfare Asiya Naqash answered a question about drainage system in the Lower House, ruling BJP MLA Sat Pal Sharma, who had sought reply from the Government, said no work has been done in his Jammu West constituency.
After an hour of rain, the whole area was flooded as was witnessed yesterday, he alleged. “Water entered the residential houses of locals resulting in damage of their households. No de-siltation work has been done in my and adjoining constituencies. If the work would have been done, things would have been different on the ground,” he said.
The Minister in her reply had said measures to improve drainage system, including regular proper cleaning and carrying out necessary repairs to increase the carrying capacity, have been taken up.
“The necessary repairs and construction of drainage system is being done by my department as per necessity and availability of funds,” she said in her reply.
The observations made by Mr Sharma where echoed by Speaker Kavinder Gupta, who expressed concern over accumulation of rain water in his Gandhi Nagar constituency yesterday. “After an hour of rain, the whole area was floods. Water entered residential houses something needs to be done after it,” he said. BJP MLA from Jammu East Rajesh Gupta also expressed concern over unsatisfactory condition of drainage system, asserted that his constituency experienced similar problems.
Meanwhile, National Conference (NC) member Mubarik Ahmad Gul said a similar situation is being faced by the people in Srinagar city. Talking about Eidgah, Mr Gul said no de-siltation work has been taken up in some parts of his constituency, which results in choking up of rain water and leads to waterlogging even after few minutes of rain.
Mr Gul’s comments over the problem were backed by ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Member Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari who said the Government has been saying from last one year that it will improve the drainage system, but still nothing has been done.
However, responding to the concerns raised by the Members, Ms Naqash said work has been taken up to improve the drainage system, but the water gets choked as Sewage Treatment Plant (STPs) in both Jammu and Srinagar are incomplete.
“Regular de-siltation is being done, but till the time STPs in the twin capital cities are functional, there will be some issue with regards to waterlogging,” she said.
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