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WE THE PEOPLE

Why minor intensity rainfall is enough to submerge roads and built-up areas in city of Srinagar?

Hence people demand effective drainage/ sewerage system to tackle inundation to improve their living conditions

By: M. Shirjeel

Srinagar: Despite huge investment in Drainage Sector by the Government of J&K, most of the roads and residential areas of the city of Srinagar get submerged even after minor precipitation. Had the network of drains and pumping stations been well designed, there would be no question of inundation of main and cross roads. Such a scenario brings people face to face with unbearable situation, which is unheard in the history of modern cities of Indian States. Hence people demand thorough probe into the working mechanism of UEED to sift the grain from the chaff.

It is to be kept in mind that Kashmir Valley has peculiar topographical characteristics, which call for special drainage system to take care of such exigencies. Perhaps this was the driving force for the State Government to set-up separate Department, titled Urban Environmental Engineering Department (UEED), in late seventies to tackle drainage problem in twin capital cities of Jammu and Kashmir State. The problem is very acute in Kashmir Valley as it is a bowl shaped terrain whileas the Jammu being hilly provides quick disposal to surface run-off. Here in the city of Srinagar, a small intensity rainfall submerges not only the newly developed colonies, but also even the main city roads, rendering movement of pedestrians very difficult. People have been facing this situation for decades and now credibility of the concerned Department has come into question, as it has not been able to tackle the problem effectively hitherto.

The UEED was initially created to tackle drainage problem of the cities Srinagar and Jammu, but later towns were also included in the project. Lot of consultancy was hired both at the national and international level. A team of Central experts visited the Valley on number of occasions and suggested measures to overcome the drainage problem. Later a team of experts from England came and stayed in the Valley for a month and undertook in-depth study of both drainage and sewerage problems. They also undertook the study of the main problems facing the Dal and Nageen Lakes. To tackle the sewerage problem in the city of Srinagar, they were of the opinion that micro tunneling should be adopted to solve the problem. Laying trunk sewers in the city of Srinagar can lead to demolition of structures, which are huddled together. This will not only result in mass dislocation of the inhabitants, but shall entail a prohibitive cost that is not affordable under the prevailing circumstances. As a matter of fact, the concerned Departments have constructed some structures and laid pipes to tackle the sewerage problem of the newly built hotels and guesthouses around Dal Lake. But sewerage problem of the main city of Srinagar is yet to find a solution. The most taxing problem is that of drainage which has no proper arrangement available at present. Although many permanent and temporary dewatering stations have been installed at number of places in the city of Srinagar, yet these fail on most of the occasions, leading to inundation on large scale. The condition of newly developed colonies is all the more pathetic as they lack proper drainage system.

“ Owing to Nallah Mar, the city of Srinagar would seldom face drainage problem in the past as it was dividing the city into two halves. The Nallah was not only used as a navigation channel, but was serving as a drainage channel too. The waste water discharged by residential houses located on either side of Nallah Mar would find easy entry into the Nallah, leaving no scope for submergence of residential belts. Alas! The Nallah was filled with tones of earth and converted into a road without foreseeing the future events. With a rainfall of minor intensity, the `Sher-e-Khas’ gets drowned, rendering movement of people almost impracticable. The uptown newly developed colonies have no drainage system either and what is more astonishing that the UEED has constructed some drains in patches which are not connected with the disposal area. It has resulted in squandering public funds, as there is no utility after dumping money into the construction of drains. Therefore, there is dire need for effective drainage system to provide us relief and save us from frequent submergence”, said a group of elderly persons of the city of Srinagar.

Hence it becomes obligatory on the part of the UEED officials to rise to the occasion and adopt remedial measures to rectify the situation. There is urgent need for well-designed drainage system for the city of Srinagar to save it from submergence. This brings normal activity to a grinding halt, which is unheard in the world of technology today.