news details |
|
|
| Jhelum dredging allotted, sans tenders | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Apr 14: As dredging of the Jhelum is going on at a snail's pace, there are allegations that Irrigation & Flood Control department has allotted some works without inviting tenders.
Details available with Early Times reveal that the department has allotted some works from Lasjan to Sonwar to some 'blue-eyed' contractors without inviting any tenders, thus violating the necessary codal formalities.
Sources say that some works which were already allotted through e-tendering were not taken up due to some complaints filed before various government agencies. The works, according to sources, have been allotted through backdoor means to some contractors in lieu of kickbacks.
As already reported, the High Court recently issued notice to the Irrigation & Flood Control department to clear garbage from the irrigation canals which have been chocked by solid waste especially bio non-degradable waste (plastic, polythene etc).
Sources say that this work has also not been taken by the department.
The High Court division bench of acting Chief Justice S Ramalingam and Justice M K Hanjura while hearing a PIL had issued notices to several organizations which included Irrigation & Flood Control department.
Other organisations who have been issued notices are Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), Tourism, Horticulture, HUDD, Agriculture, and Rural Development. All these departments have to file status report by May 15.
In addition, the High Court was told by the petitioner organisation through their counsel Shafqat Nazir that majority of irrigation canals across J&K are filled with plastic and all kinds of trash which needs to be cleared.
The court took this issue seriously and issued notice to the concerned department through its Commissioner Secretary and asked him to file a status report about the measures taken to address this issue.
Pertinently, Swachh Nehar Abhiyaan (Clean Canal Campaign) under which major irrigation canals in Jammu and other towns were supposed to be cleaned by way of scientific solid waste management, as per the guidelines of Solid Waste Management Rules (SWM Rules 2016), was launched by IFC Chief Engineer Jammu last year. But the officer P N Bali was prematurely transferred from his post and the work could not be undertaken.
Sources have told Early Times that many important irrigation canals like marvel canals, Kralpora canal in Budgam need immediate dredging as lot of plastic waste has been accumulated. But the authorities are least bothered to take up these works.
Similarly Doodh Ganga nallah has been encroached in Chadoora Budgam but the Flood control department is acting as a mute spectator. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
