City going more flood-prone!

 After the last year construction of vented causeway across the channel, this fresh land-filling, has further heightened the flood fears: At least among thousands of inhabitants living along banks of this canal.
This spill channel supplements the Jhelum flow during floods. Instead of its much-needed dredging, the authorities have allowed its further burial.

THE NEW THREAT
As a part of the ongoing construction of JehangirChowk Ram Bagh(JCRB) flyover, a bridge is to be constructed parallel to the existing Ram Bagh bridge. But ahead of this construction, the flood spill channel portion has been landfilled. Part of it is used to dump construction material and the rest as a causeway.
“It has been done at the cost of safety of the City otherwise where have you seen river course fully blocked for any bridge construction? This has been allowed to reduce expenditure on transportation of construction material,” said an insider in the IFCD. “The canal has been blocked by around eight feet of earth and this is nothing but killer negligence on the part of authorities.”
Observers said amid forecast of wet spell for the coming months, the blockade could prove disastrous again. “Last year the vented causeway constructed near Mehjoor Nagar considerably hindered the movement of flood waters and it ultimately put more pressure on Jhelum, which caused devastation in the City,” said a retired IFCD engineer who in 2004 was among the first to fear that Srinagar could not be saved during floods due to “haphazard urbanization”.
But spill channel vandalization has been on. Last year to facilitate hassle free work on the JCRB flyover the then Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Shailendra Kumar, who was personally monitoring the project progress,  saw construction of the vented causeway route across the flood channel being completed despite massive public outcry.

THE ‘NEGLIGENCE’
Expressing serious concern over the spill channel issue, inhabitants of adjoining Jawahar Nagar and Raj Bagh said: “Srinagar is being taken for granted as if out of some deep rooted conspiracy.” “Otherwise how will any such negligence be allowed along the road which is frequented by VIPs?” asked Hamid Ahmed.
The concerned have demanded immediate intervention of Governor NN Vohra into the matter. “Strict action should be initiated against the officials who allow this negligence so that the punishment serves a deterrent,” the Srinagarites said.

THE SLUMBER
 Concerned citizens alleged that “IFCD slumber towards Srinagar has been growing even after floods.”  “The first injustice was that in the post flood situation a Superintending Engineer looking after City drainage was transferred…In brazen violation of the model code of conduct a blue-eyed engineer from a different wing having no experience of drainage work was elevated as the SE Incharge,” said an RTI activist. Greater Kashmir is in possession of relevant documents while Commissioner IFCD PawanKotwal feigned ignorance about the issue saying civic body might have taken such decision.

IFCD SPEAKS
 The IFCD officials downplayed the land filling of the spill channel.  “We have granted permission to them to do this but at some terms and conditions, which are technically sound. They are bound to abide by the norms,” the concerned Executive Engineer said.
The official however dispelled the notion that this earth filling could make City more flood prone.

BLUNDER- AFTER-BLUNDER!
* Last year despite massive public outcry, IFCD allowed construction of causeway across the spill channel

* The raised causeway proved no less than a dam during floods hindering flow of waters by around 12 feet

* This burdened adjacent Jhelum, which breached at multiple places and entire City deluged to devastation

* Now apart from another causeway, portion of the spill channel is serving as JCRB flyover construction material  dump

* Post floods IFCD handed over City drainage affairs into hands of senior engineer from a different department