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| Jammu’s metamorphosis: from clean slope to filthy slum? | | |
SANDEEP BHAT
Jammu, Jan 23: When its rains, driving through the drains and mud in the Winter Capital is natural. But even days after rains many roads in the City remain clogged with water making it difficult to pass across.
The scene is the same whether it is the Dogra Chowk, Vinayak Bazar, Talab Tilo, Warehouse, Gandhi Nagar crossing, some parts of Subhash Nagar, Kabir Nagar area of Bhagwati Nagar,Resham Ghar Colony and krishna Nagar. Similar is the case with streets around the Gandadhar Temple adjoining the Mubarak Mandi complex of palaces.
As it can be seen the drains are open hangover of the period when the city was small and really beautiful like a freshly laid garden on the slope of a hill. One good rain would wash everything clean. Even small drains would wear a new look. There would be some problem on account of non-flush latrines. However, dedicated Safai karamcharis would tackle it by swiftly carrying out cleanliness operation.
All this has undergone a change. Increase in population has put severe strain on civic amenities. Gone are the days when one could just race through Pacca Danga or Upper Bazaar. It is difficult to walk leave alone run these days. The Jammu Municipal Corporation presently has a workforce of 170 Safai Karamcharis to keep the drainage system functional. Somehow the results are not satisfactory. There is need for increasing their strength to meet the enormous challenge on land. Low-lying areas in particular are badly affected. Indeed, it is a pity that a busy stretch between Asia crossing and Green Belt Park Chowk turns into a pond after rains. There has been an avoidable incident of filthy drain water flooding shops of Vinayak Nazar at a point in time. Why should this happen? The stagnant water generates diseases, among other troubles. Sooner it is got rid of the better it is for people living nearby.
Small drains apart the city has a couple of big nallahs as well. People have encroached upon the one in Subhash Nagar. The entire locality is thus exposed to a double threat. First, there is heaps of garbage. Secondly, the desilting work can’t be carried out because of trespassers. It is for their own well-being that citizens should cooperate in such matters. What is, however, unacceptable is that a complication should arise anywhere because of lack of communication between official wings. Going by the version of Municipal Corporation it seems that obstruction in the Green Belt park Chowk was preventable. It had occurred with the Roads and Buildings Department failing to remove the surplus material after constructing a footpath. Bits and pieces of the material had permanently blocked all drains that, it is claimed, have now been cleared. A silver lining is that with the coming into being of an elected corporation the people have started speaking up against infringement upon their surroundings. They must keep doing so. It is their right. The people ought to know that city is a beneficiary of the Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. More importantly, sewerage and drainage are admissible components of this well- intended operation. Even today, at panama chowk, the water was logged and the workers were trying hard to drain out the water. On 18th January, when the rains lashed Jammu city and its surroundings the important function at Abhinav Theatre, Where Chief minister Omar Abdullah was Chief guest, the parking place was flooded with rain water and, it becomes next to impossible for guests to get their Vehicle out of Parking area.
This reporter talked to Mayor, Jammu Municipal Corporation, Kavinder Gupta in his office chamber on the issue, he said that whenever there is rain, the city roads and drains got dirty and filthy and Jammu Municipal Corporation is not responsible for all this. There should be a combined Accountability on the matter. No doubt it is a matter of serious concern, we are ought to take responsive steps.
He further said the use of Polythene bags are the main cause of choking of drains small Nallah’s and there should be immediate ban on this polythene is not only choking the drains, but it is hazards to health also Government must take concrete steps to minimize the sufferings of the people, when it rains again.
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