Posted on December 17, 2018
The Governor administration has ordered dredging of the flood spill channel that spans a vast area from Padshahibagh to far ends of the city in north Kashmir.
The devastating floods in 2014 and the subsequent expert warnings about poor preparedness against future calamities had not prompt any action from the authorities for past four years.
The superintending engineer PHE G A Baig has been entrusted to undertake the task. Officials said soon after Baig was given additional charge, he started off the multi-level dredging at Rajbagh, Rambagh, Gangbug, Tengpora, Alucha Bagh and Batamaloo.
“A disaster is staring at us. The channel has accumulated slush for years. We shall not compromise and would work even in harsh winter because the channel’s carrying capacity needs to be restored,” Baig told Greater Kashmir.
After dilly-dallying for three years, the authorities took up the work for restoration of the capacity of the channel in April last year at the cost of Rs 141 crore. But the work was halted soon after the political turmoil hit the state. “Our target is to restore the carrying capacity of the channel upto 60 thousand cusecs but that will happen in phases,” Baig said.
The officials confirmed that more than 200 acres of land has been acquired for the project and nearly eight lakh cubic meters of silt removed from the channel. Residents from the areas adjoining the channel have hailed the efforts of the Governor administration and expected the project to be completed next year. “We are happy that the Governor realized the urgency of the matter and took up the work again. Baig started work in the channel immediately after he was assigned the additional charge. We hope that the same zeal will continue and the city is saved if in future floods hits us,” said Nisar Ahmad Khan, a prominent citizen from Alucha Bagh.
Source: Greater Kashmir
