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| Floods, illegal constructions & SMC's 'great job' | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Oct 3: As the administration battles with dewatering from inundated areas some of which are still submerged, unscrupulous elements have started illegal constructions on a large scale in
Srinagar city.
These constructions are going on in highly fashionable Residency Road, Abi Guzar, Basant Bagh and other areas. Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has said it has been moving swiftly against such illegal constructions and some of these have also been demolished.
The fact is that there are hundreds of illegal constructions in Srinagar city and in areas around it. In not so distant past SMC had put up large hoardings on many illegal constructions in Srinagar declaring these constructions as illegal. SMC officials also said these structures would be immediately demolished. What happened on ground was that these constructions were neither demolished nor their completion was stopped. All these constructions have been completed and most of these have been rented out at huge premiums by their influential owners.
The damage caused by the recent floods were in fact so devastating because the SMC had allowed unauthorized constructions at hundreds of places those not only blocked the passage of flood waters but also ensured that lawful constructions in such areas were damaged beyond repair.
One big example of these illegal constructions is the structures those have been allowed to be illegally constructed on the banks of the Jhelum River in Srinagar.
SMC will have to do some serious explaining in the days to come as causes and reasons of these floods would be either officially probed or would be brought to light by public interest litigations.
The State High Court has now issued clear directions to demolish all illegal constructions on the banks of Jhelum River right from south Kashmir areas to Srinagar city.
These directions also explicitly state that no construction of whatsoever nature unless meant for flood protection should be allowed on and around the banks of the River.
The worst damage to public and private property in Srinagar has been caused by these floods. The SMC has been conspicuous by its absence throughout these floods. It only came to surface during the first press conference given by the state chief secretary in which the SMC commissioner highlighted what he said had been the 'great job' done by the SMC after the floods.
People will ask questions as they already are about what has the SMC done to protect Srinagar or drain out its inundated areas. Saying that everything was submerged including the SMC offices and its records is not going to save its officials from explaining their conduct to the people.
If displaying flower pots and containers before Srinagar was washed out including the SMC flower containers, is proof of the 'great job' the SMC has done then its commissioner is in deep trouble. Believing that somebody in the top echelons of power would protect the management of the SMC is childish. Those who the SMC top brass believe would protect them have their own conduct to explain these floods. Catching at the stray does not help a drowning person. It would also not help the drowning image of the SMC and its top brass. |
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