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| Roaring Usman Flood Canal threatens Khawaja Bagh | | Scared residents await help | | Syed Tahir Bukhari
BARAMULLA, Mar 20: The irrigation and flood control department in this North Kashmir district has not been able to take people of Khawaja
Bagh locality out of flood threat by failing to undertake the maintenance of 'Usman colony flood canal' that overflows its banks during rains.
A local Mehraj-ud-Din Sheikh said that despite apprising the department many times, nothing has moved. This is despite the directions issued years back by then Deputy Chief Minister and MLA Baramulla, Muzaffar Hussain Beigh to carry the digging process to keep people out of flood danger.
The flood canal starts from hilly village Daradpora, Frasthar, Fatehpora, Gutiyar and flows throw Sherwani Colony, Usman Colony besides other areas and waste water flows to River Jhelum near Dak Bungalow. The ill-maintained canal needs immediate excavation of filth to keep the people out of danger.
On Tuesday water level subsequently increased and inundated the roads and public courtyards. Locals said, in past many residential areas and orchards which include Jetty, Usmanabad, Singhbagh, Main Khawaja Bagh and National Highway were inundated due to water breach at many places.
Jalal-ud-Din Peer, Former Executive Officer, Municipal Council, Baramulla told early Times that the department despite being near Khawaja Bagh has never taken maintenance of canal in past 10 years. He said in rainy season people have to bear the brunt as the over flowing water of the Canal leaves residential areas, roads and orchards inundated.
"Fearing flood threat, we visited the department on Monday but ironically the officials were not there to redress our problem. We many times tabled the matter before the department however nothing to avail. Moreover then Deputy Chief Minister, Muzaffar Hussain Beigh also directed the officials of the department to look into the issue on priority basis after locals apprised him about the problem, but ironically the directions were thrown to dustbin," Peer said.
He said thought tender of Lakhs was drafted some time ago by the department for filth excavation to make smooth flow of water which probably would have ensured low flood threat to local residents, but much to the inconvenience the tender was not yet executed.
Assistant Executive Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control Department Baramulla, Tariq Ahmad Lalla admitted the tender for clearance of 'Flood Canal' was allotted to some contractor in past. Tariq said that however the work to excavate filth could not be executed as the contractor faced some problem to execute it. He said choked culvert near Masjid Usman was cleared yesterday to avoid water logging in the area.
"Actually culvert near Masjid and some other spots have virtually turned into a garbage dumping site and water pipes hold the garbage which chokes the culvert with the result water over flows on road," said Lalla. He said the department is unable to move machinery due to presence of water pipes and power transformer and tin walls.
"For proper clearance, the departments will soon start the work and will shortly move a notice to locals for cooperation to move the machinery through their orchards for proper clearance of flood canal," he said. |
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