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| Demand for CBI probe into Jhelum dredging gains pace | | | Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
Srinagar, June 30: A group of concerned citizens on Saturday appealed Governor N N Vohra to immediately order a probe into 'Jhelum dredging' project being executed by a Kolkata-based firm.
The last minute attempts of Irrigation and Flood Control department to protect possible breaches of Jheulm embankments at Lethopra and Lasjan in Srinagar agitated the Srinagar citizens. Environmental and social activists ridiculed the authorities and politicians while as journalists suspected Rs 400 cr worth scam and demanded a CBI probe.
"Shame on you Irrigation and Flood Control Department will you held official responsibility to contributory principles for floods. You even failed to recover money from dredging company, who looted your department on the name of flood mitigation plan. Your department wasted 100cr for nothing. Will expose every one of you," noted Environmental activist, advocate Nadeem Qadri threatened.
Qadri, who hails from Pampore town, has been appointed as Amicus Curiae by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in Public Interest litigation alleged that successive governments failed to take concrete measures.
Qadri alleged that Irrigation and Flood Control department never took his suggestions seriously.
Concerned Citizens including activists and journalists took social media sites-Facebook and twitter- and demanded a probe into the scam.
Journalist Majid Hyderi alleged, "In the absence of much-needed accountability from New Delhi, Jhelum dredging has become a goldmine for the Babus and Mantris, who exploit this development to fill personal coffers."
Senior journalist, Ahmad Ali Fayaz wrote on Facebook, "J&K Governor N N Vohra Shab must live up to his reputation & immediately order CBI probe into the Rs 400 Cr Jhelum Dredging Scam as also take all necessary initiatives to safeguard the Kashmiris against a potential flood risk that can turn catastrophic with 5-day long rain."
"As per sources #Jehlum River Desilt (Dredging) is 400Cr Scam, Money pocketed by all at the helm of affairs ... Machines which were used to Desilt Jehlum only extracted sand & sold in open market for which transactions was done in cash, @jandkgovernor shld initiate probe," wrote Asif Suhaf, a journalist working New Delhi based Channel.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also backed the concerned citizens and raised some questions over the functioning of previous PDP-BJP government.
"What was the PDP-BJP government doing after devastating floods of 2014? What happened to the dredging of Jhelum? Why was the carrying capacity of the flood channel increased? Where did the money go? Omar asked on twitter.
After the floods in 2014, then J&K government had submitted a proposal of Rs 44,000 crore to the central government for building flood management infrastructure and rehabilitation of victims, however Central Government sanctioned 8,000 crore flood relief package for Jammu and Kashmir and additionally World Bank had also allotted Rs 1,580 crore in 2015 but the government failed to spent the amount and build an effective flood management infrastructure.
Previously, Mehbooba Mufti led PDP-BJP government allotted the contract of dredging of Jhelum to Kolkata based firm but it failed to complete the work. |
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