Drainage system exposed, defunct since years

Due to incessant rain in the Valley from the last evening, the entire city is inundated with people blaming the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) for failing to improve the defunct drainage system from the last many years.
After the floods in the Valley in September 2014, all drains were blocked and left defunct. Since then, no major work has been undertaken to improve the drainage which has resulted in frequent waterlogging in the heart of the summer capital. Residents said the situation had worsened in Srinagar in the last two years as no permanent measures were being taken by the authorities.
“They are only dependent of water pumps and dewatering stations as they have failed to install a proper drainage system keeping in view the weather here,” said Adil Ahmad, a resident of Lal Chowk.
The September floods that brought devastation to Srinagar gave setback to most of the civic infrastructure here as the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) suffered losses worth more than Rs 400 crore.
The drainage in Srinagar was the worst hit which needs immediate attention. The problem of waterlogging hampers traffic and people are restricted to their houses affecting the normal work.
“Waterlogging has become the cause of inconvenience from the last many days. A slight shower inundates the entire city. The drainage system has completely failed in most of the parts,” said another resident.
The drains were overflowing in Regal chowk, MA Road, Old City, Babadem and many other parts. The low lying areas are the worst hit where residents said slight shower blocked flow of water.
The SMC Commissioner, however, said no new drainage project had been started in the last two years as tenders were turned down by the SMC due to high rates charged by companies. He said new projects were being started under the Centrally sponsored schemes to address the drainage issues in the summer capital. “We have prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and we are soon having meeting to start the projects under the Centrally sponsored scheme, AMRUT,” said Bashir Ahmad Khan.