Defunct drainage system inundates City Center

On a day when City Center areas were inundated, officials preferred to hold series of meetings than taking measures to prevent water-logging in commercial hub of the summer capital.
As water level started to rise to footpath level in LalChowk, Residency Road, Regal Chowk, Polo View, BudshahChowk, Koker Bazar, many shopkeepers preferred to shift their goods to safer places.
“City Center was not inundated due to defunct drainage system. It is ironical that the concerned authorities failed to remove blockages from drainage system despite passing of nearly six months since the floods hit the city,” said a group of shopkeepers in LalChowk.
Though several fire tenders were pressed into service to dewater the City Center, however the traders termed it futile in absence of proper drainage system.
“This is a temporary measure to check the problem. Despite forecast of incessant rains, authorities failed to take steps to prevent water-logging. This is sheer criminal negligence. We have suffered huge financial losses due to floods last year and are yet to be compensated by the government,” the aggrieved traders said.
“There is an imminent threat of floods. We don’t trust government. Even last time when floods hit Srinagar, the administration had not issued any alert. This time i feel the government is playing down the issue. So i advised my sons and employees to shift merchandise to safer places to prevent losses in case of floods,” said Ghulam Muhammad, a cloth merchant.
The swelling Jhelum has further worsened the fear among the people, especially in Lal Chowk.