Welcome to the dysfunctional city
Welcome to Our City
Sameer Showkin Lone (Greater Kashmir)
Srinagar:The dilapidated footpaths and water logged roadsides of city center, Lal Chowk, speak volumes over the misappropriation of the government money.
Such is the condition of footpaths at various parts, like Zaina Kadal, Residency road, Batamaloo market that most of the times pedestrians avoid to walk over these footpaths and use roads. This not only leads to traffic mess but also results in accidents.
The apathy is that state government has failed even to renovate few meter long footpath of historic Amira Kadal, which experiences a heavy flow of commuters.
“The footpaths are in dilapidated conditions. It is highly risky for older people to walk over it and one never knows when an untoward incident will be faced,” said a group of locals.
They added, Srinagar has become victim to the political rivalry which both the major political parties National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are playing over it. This tussle has resulted in getting summer capital neglected.
“We have the same drainage system which was constructed in 1930’s. Even the traffic has witnessed a manifold increase over the years, but unfortunately the city has the same roads which were 60 years ago,” believes noted historian Fida Hasnain.
Several people are of the opinion that Srinagar will not witness a major developmental fillip unless political parties instead of blaming each other, only to gain vote bank, will with full dedication and honesty uplift this city, which was also listed as the fourth dirtiest city of India.
The political parties often blame each other of ignoring this summer capital but when a thorough look at the ground facts is taken into account Srinagar has always been overlooked if compared with winter capital Jammu.
“The way government is paying special attention and diverting funds towards Jammu, this winter capital will soon acquire the status of a metropolitan city. And continuous negligence and government’s indifference will only see us going back to 19th century, where we will be plying horse carts on our dilapidated roads,” said disappointed Muhammad Ashraf Wangnoo, a local.
It is important to mention here that JKCCC has recently accused state government of diverting funds worth Rs 150 crores to Jammu which was meant for Valley.
Drainage concern:
The present drainage system is such that it does not drain out the rain water which results in water pools along the road sides. The rain water accumulated from last couple of days in Lal Chowk is yet to be drained out, which is affecting the businesses.
“The rain water will not automatically get flushed out as the drainage system is not of that standard,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, who has displayed flowers on the footpath.
The flower vendors said due to the accumulated rain water they have to lose a good number of customers as well. “This rain water lasts for several days and nobody from authorities bothers to flush it out. The SMC has gadgets to do this job but they hardly bother for this.”
Official Speak:
Despite the fact that State Municipal Corporation (SMC) has four sucking machines to suck the overflowed water from the roads, but the accumulated rain water in Lal chowk is yet to be flushed out.
Chief Sanitation Officer Manzoor Ahmad said the accumulated water can’t be sucked by using sucker machines near the Biscoe School and its vicinity.
Welcome to Our City
Sameer Showkin Lone (Greater Kashmir)
Srinagar:The dilapidated footpaths and water logged roadsides of city center, Lal Chowk, speak volumes over the misappropriation of the government money.
Such is the condition of footpaths at various parts, like Zaina Kadal, Residency road, Batamaloo market that most of the times pedestrians avoid to walk over these footpaths and use roads. This not only leads to traffic mess but also results in accidents.
The apathy is that state government has failed even to renovate few meter long footpath of historic Amira Kadal, which experiences a heavy flow of commuters.
“The footpaths are in dilapidated conditions. It is highly risky for older people to walk over it and one never knows when an untoward incident will be faced,” said a group of locals.
They added, Srinagar has become victim to the political rivalry which both the major political parties National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are playing over it. This tussle has resulted in getting summer capital neglected.
“We have the same drainage system which was constructed in 1930’s. Even the traffic has witnessed a manifold increase over the years, but unfortunately the city has the same roads which were 60 years ago,” believes noted historian Fida Hasnain.
Several people are of the opinion that Srinagar will not witness a major developmental fillip unless political parties instead of blaming each other, only to gain vote bank, will with full dedication and honesty uplift this city, which was also listed as the fourth dirtiest city of India.
The political parties often blame each other of ignoring this summer capital but when a thorough look at the ground facts is taken into account Srinagar has always been overlooked if compared with winter capital Jammu.
“The way government is paying special attention and diverting funds towards Jammu, this winter capital will soon acquire the status of a metropolitan city. And continuous negligence and government’s indifference will only see us going back to 19th century, where we will be plying horse carts on our dilapidated roads,” said disappointed Muhammad Ashraf Wangnoo, a local.
It is important to mention here that JKCCC has recently accused state government of diverting funds worth Rs 150 crores to Jammu which was meant for Valley.
Drainage concern:
The present drainage system is such that it does not drain out the rain water which results in water pools along the road sides. The rain water accumulated from last couple of days in Lal Chowk is yet to be drained out, which is affecting the businesses.
“The rain water will not automatically get flushed out as the drainage system is not of that standard,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, who has displayed flowers on the footpath.
The flower vendors said due to the accumulated rain water they have to lose a good number of customers as well. “This rain water lasts for several days and nobody from authorities bothers to flush it out. The SMC has gadgets to do this job but they hardly bother for this.”
Official Speak:
Despite the fact that State Municipal Corporation (SMC) has four sucking machines to suck the overflowed water from the roads, but the accumulated rain water in Lal chowk is yet to be flushed out.
Chief Sanitation Officer Manzoor Ahmad said the accumulated water can’t be sucked by using sucker machines near the Biscoe School and its vicinity.
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