Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Mar 25: Restoration of Dal Lake, dredging of river Jhelum, drainage, traffic congestion are main agenda on which the political parties would contest Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.
The Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency is scheduled to go to polls on April 18 and has 12,90,318 voters who will cast their votes at 1,716 polling stations set up in the constituency.
The constituency is spanning over three districts-Srinagar, Budgam, and Ganderbal- and the constituency has 18 assembly segments.
While all parties are eyeing on Parliamentary constituency, there are various developmental issues, which the political parties would like to focus in upcoming polls.
Restoration of Dal Lake: The condition of famed Dal Lake has deteriorated over the years. The political parties have always been promising for its restoration. On ground nothing is being done. As elections are coming closer, the restoration of the Lake would be prime focus for political parties because most of the people of this constituency live on its banks and are directly or indirectly dependent upon it like tourism point of view, sewage.
After 2014 floods, the government has come under sharp criticism over its failure to carry out dredging of River Jehlum. The carrying capacity of the river has reduced over the years posing flood threat to Srinagar and adjoining areas even by moderate rainfall.
Drainage problem: Drainage is another issue in Srinagar. Only 40 percent area has drainage system in place. Srinagar faces water logging even by slight rainfall.
Pollution, Congestion: Pollution has also increased in Srinagar. Similarly, there is huge congestion of population. In Old City Srinagar, there is huge congestion even no drainage system in place.
Then there are other issues like traffic congestion, encroachments of footpaths, unemployment, arresting of youth, and other political issues, which will become important issues in upcoming polls. The parties are also doing politics on religious lines like they claim that BJP is anti-Muslims and have to be stopped from entering into Kashmir. The PDP is also being blamed for making alliance with the BJP. |
