Days after the State Government handed over the three mega drainage projects for Srinagar funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) for commissioning, the inhabitants of Srinagar city alleged that Corporation is making no efforts to secure funds in this regard and the process has kept limited to papers only.A delegation from different areas of Srinagar city including Gojwara, Firdous Abad, Court Road and Fruit Mandi told CNS that a detailed project for augmentation of various dewatering stations was prepared by SMC but the officials at Superintending Engineer Drainage Circle informed them that work could not be started due to lack of funds. “If the government is short of funds then how come Deputy Chief Minister who also holds the portfolio of Housing and Urban Development claimed that work on the Rs 160 crore would be started in the second week of November,” they said.
“The Government resorted to a ‘white lie’ when it claimed that four pumping stations have been constructed which contain nine non clog submersible pumps, nine dry weather pumps, seven storm water pumps. “Where are these pumps? If any pump is there, that is either out of order or incapable to drain the water effectively,” they said and asked Government to ensure that work on the project gets started without any delay.Pertinently, the mega drainage projects announced by the Government are Rawalpora-Tengpora drainage scheme, Bemina-Fruit Mandi drainage scheme and Pohru-Chanapora drainage scheme. (CNS)