Cantonment Board stakes claim over stretch of Jhelum

The desiltation of river Jhelum at Shivpora here has come to a halt as the Cantonment Board is staking claim over water expanse and embankments there.

Shivpora locality was one of the worst hit areas in September 2014 floods as it remained submerged for more than 20 days.

The Cantonment Board’s claim has shocked the locals. “We have never heard of any such claim in past. Everyone knows that only Irrigation and Flood Control department has jurisdiction on Jhelum,” said Farooq Ahmad, a member of Mohalla Behbood Committee at Shivpora.

“The entire population has been living under constant fear after the floods and this desiltation had given us some hope. But the halt in desiltation is a matter of concern for us” he said.

The local residents along with the allotment firm are up in arms against the Cantonment Board, saying “it was unnecessarily impeding the desiltation process.”

“People at helm of the Board, especially a JE is unnecessarily interfering to settle some personal scores with the Irrigation and Flood Control officials. We are unable to comprehend the logic how come the river and its embankments belong to Board. Since last 30 years, the Board was nowhere. Even two years ago when desiltation started, the Board did not stake such claim,” said Muhammad Abass, a local.

“In absence of desiltation of the river, our life and property is in danger. We will take to streets against the Board if it doesn’t stop interfering in the work, ” said a group of locals.

They also Board yesterday dug up a trench to prevent movement of machines and trucks.

The Board confirmed halting the process. “It is a defense land maintained and managed by our Board. Whatever comes in our jurisdiction belongs to us. The Irrigation and Flood Control department has not obtained NOC from us and we won’t allow desiltation in our jurisdiction,” said Junior Engineer of the Cantonment Board, Tariq Ahmed.

Refuting the Board’s claim over the river, Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control, Javaid Jaffar said, “we are the sole custodian of the Jhelum.”

“Let me make it clear to the Cantonment Board that the river don’t belong to them. We will start desiltation process soon,” Jaffar said.

Jaffar said many officers from I&FC had a meeting with the Board officials. “They will soon brief me about the meeting,” he said.

Pertinently, the shoal removal along Shivpora embankment was allotted to a firm M/S Fayaz Ahmad Bhat of Kursoo Padshahi Bagh under allotment order no 4922-24 on February 19, 2013.

The firm was allotted contract for removal of shoal from river Jhelum RP Side (from Yatoo Mohalla) RD 67.50 Km to RD 68.00 Km length meters section list. The total bid amount for the work was Rs 29, 54 182.

Another allotment order was issued to the same firm under order 4924-29 on the same date for removal of shoal from river Jhelum RP side (from Yatoo Mohalla) RD 68.00 km to RD 68.40 km length 400 meters section list.

The firm said that it had completed section first. “However, section second and third are yet to be completed. The desiltation can be done till January after which the water level in the Jhelum increase which would make it difficult to remove the silt,” they said.