Authorities sit over strengthening of river Jhelum embankments

Shivpora and its adjoining areas bore the brunt of floods last year as Jhelum waters breached its embankments at around eight places and submerged the city. Panic has gripped the area as a large stretch of repaired embankment of river Jhelum from Dharbagh Shivpora to Batwara has crumbled and developed cracks.
The inhabitants of Shivpora mince no words to accuse the Irrigation and Flood Control department of using “sub-standard material and adopting unscientific methods” to repair the damaged embankments in the area.
Amid heavy rains, the aggrieved residents on Sunday took to streets and staged protest against the Irrigation and Flood Control department. They demanded action against the concerned officials of the department and respective contractor for what they said “criminal negligence.”
“The officials of the department in collusion with contractors have used substandard material to repair the embankments. If slight rain can cause massive damage to the embankment here, how can it withstand pressure of Jhelum waters?” asked Javid Ahmad, a senior executive member of Mohalla Committee of Shivpora pointing towards damaged portion of the embankment there.
“The respective contractor did not repair breaches or increase height of the embankment as per the parameters.
The contractor did not even roll the soil layers to reinforce the embankment. Ironically, no officer of the department monitored his work as a result the repaired embankment has developed major cracks and eroded at several places after few hours of rains,” said Basharat Hussain Bazaz, a senior functionary of the Mohalla Committee.
“Floods last year caused extensive damage to our property. We want the Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood department to assure us in writing that the repair of embankment has been undertaken as per parameters and it can withstand flow and higher water levels in Jhelum,” he added.
The inhabitants demanded a probe into utilization of funds for repairs of embankments. “Government claims crores of rupees were spent on reinforcement of embankments. However, situation on the ground is different as only breaches have been filled up with soil,” they said.
Following protest by Shivpora inhabitants, the Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Javid Jaffar visited the spot and inspected the embankment.
“We are having sleepless nights due to crumbling of embankment here. Our children are scared. We want an assurance that the repaired embankment is technically sound. We want to know why the embankment developed cracks. In case there is breach in the embankment here, whole city will get submerged,” the aggrieved inhabitants told the Chief Engineer.
They also demanded construction of a concrete or stone wall to strengthen the embankment. “I have been regularly monitoring ongoing works here and am satisfied with it. However, the work is still in progress. If we detect any problem, it will be rectified immediately,” the Chief Engineer told the locals.
The Chief Engineer said final certification of the work on embankment will be assessed by an expert team. “The team will check whether the contractor has fulfilled all parameters. His bills will not be released till experts issue certification that he has fulfilled all conditions of contract while executing the works,” he added.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Rohit Kansal assured to look into the matter. “Concerns of people of the area will be taken into consideration. We will send a team on spot to inspect the work. Any negligence on part of the concerned officials or contractor will be dealt with strictly according to law,” Kansal said.