Doodh Ganga encroachments demolished, 3 held
People hail admin
Intensifying its drive to remove encroachments and other illegal structures from banks of waterbodies, the administration Thursday undertook a massive demolition drive on the Doodh Ganga canal flowing along the Bones and Joints Hospital Barzulla, an official spokesman said adding three persons were detained. A high level team officials led by District Magistrate Farooq Ahmed Shah supervised the drive.
The drive which started at around 10:30 AM continued till sunset with officials saying it was the longest ever such exercise undertaken in the recent past. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Rohit Kansal was personally monitoring the inspection.
Among others, Chief Engineer Irrigation & Flood Control, Chief Enforcement Officer Srinagar Municipal Corporation Nisar Shah were present during the demolition undertaken by 70 odd SMC staffers and 3 JCBs in presence of police.
The concerned citizens hailed the administration for the drive and appealed the DM that the initiative be taken to its logical conclusion. “We want this drive to free Srinagar of its encroachments particularly along waterbodies. The glory of Doodh Ganga needs to be revived, only then Srinagar can be saved from September 2014 like floods,” said a delegation. “We think the official machinery in Srinagar performs better without the political interference,” said an aged man.
The official spokesman said “Drive against encroachments on waterbodies would continue and nobody resorting to unfair means will be spared.”
He enjoined upon the officers concerned to dismantle the illegal constructions and warned those people involved in encroachments of dire consequences.
Some time back Chief Secretary Muhammad Iqbal Khanday had asked the administration to get rid of the riverside encroachments. Meanwhile Divisional Commissioner said the drive would be extended to other areas as well.
