WE THE PEOPLE
Const., of Degree College by JKPCC on fringe of Sindh Nallah at Ganderbal quite violative of environ/ flood norms
Hence people demand thorough probe so that remedial measures are taken to safeguard environ and human lives
By: R. Makhdoomi
Srinagar: In the sensitive process of development, the issues confronting today are achieving desired attention globally for economic or social reasons on one hand and safeguarding the environment and maintaining good quality living conditions on the other. But in our state while taking up developmental activities, the assimilative capacities of the environmental components i.e., air, water and land are rarely considered .One of such example being the projects undertaken or completed by Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC).with high pride. The JKPCC on its website has put Ganderbal Degree College under the banner of its completed Projects, although the Degree College complex has been completed, but the said Project is an epitome of errors, as it has grossly impacted and affected the environment quite adversely.
A death trap has been woven by the JKPCC in district Ganderbal in the shape of the Degree College for the mighty and greenish chinars. One of the biggest and largest buildings in district Ganderbal has been constructed on the banks of famous river Sindh just 5-7 meters away from the actual water course of the Sindh, thus subjecting the building vulnerable to floods. The site is ecologically fragile and once used to be one of the best tourist spots in Ganderbal being surrounded by the lofty and mighty chinars in whose lap the tourists and the locals used to refresh themselves in the cool breeze of these natural coolers called Chinars., but now a lot of damage has been done due to this ill- conceived Project. Two Chinars have already withered away and many are taking their last breath thanks to this Project!
The locals rather than celebrating the construction of the Degree College are infuriated with the manner in which the whole Project has been implemented by the JKPCC and Higher Education Department. Mudasir Hamid, a local activist cum lawyer said, “According to the official data during the last 30 years more than 30000 chinars have been lost in the valley with their number decreasing from 42000 in 1976 to mere 16000 at present. Everybody knows that for the chinars to survive minimum distance of 50 meters is to be kept between the tree and the construction if any to be made. But see the vision and legacy of the Managers of our so called Premier Public Sector Construction Company (JKPCC), it has hardly left 5-10 meters of distance, while constructing this college. .Several Environmentalists of the area had resisted its construction on that site, but the government turned deaf to their vows. I had made personal representation to the then Deputy Commissioner of Ganderbal but all in vain. And the result is that two chinars have died during and after the said construction. Thanks to so called well planned structure of JKPCC. The building is also prone to cracks and also to the floods as being vey close to the mighty river Sindh and legally at least a distance of 20- 25 meters has to be kept between a river bank and the building ,but in this case it is hardly 5-10 meters.”
Zayeem Hassan, a local said, “The chinar tree under the law of the land is considered to be the royal tree but in practice it has become the fodder of the government. The construction of Ganderbal Degree College is in total violation of the environmental laws as it has been constructed at a site which is ecologically fragile. Pertinently, construction of this type also possesses severe threat to the life of the students as the College building is very close to river Sindh. Irshad Ahmad, a local said, “The Chief Minister of our state has already taken some steps to improve the efficiency of our Public Sector Construction Companies, but an eagle’s eye has to be kept by the government on different realms of ongoing Projects undertaken by these Companies or the ones that have recently been completed .it has to be ensured that these Public Sector Companies achieve efficiency and are free from corruption and inefficient people.”
Hence, it is high time that the concept of sustainable development is pragmatically implemented and visionaries be provided a chance to serve in important Public Sector undertakings ,so that the State is saved from frequent damages caused by inefficient Babus.
More 
