Criticism bash boosts JMC’s cleanliness drive ‘190 men, machinery pressed into service’

Sanjeev K. Sharma

JAMMU, July 27: Facing severe criticism bash from almost every quarter of the society after the first rain of monsoon, few days back, threw normal life out of gear, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has pulled its sleeves with senior officers of the urban local body, Mayor and others seen personally monitoring the de-silting of deep drains and cleanliness operations to avoid the recur of devastation by floods from blocked drainage system.
It is pertinent to mention here that few days back many parts of Jammu city and its adjoining areas witnessed litter on road, streets and roads flooded with dirty water from drains and deep drains wherein the dirty water even entered some residential houses at certain places thereby causing damage to the household belongings.
“About 190 men are on job clearing blockage from the deep drains (Nallahs) of Jammu city,” said Narinder Singh, Chairman Public Health and Sanitation Committee of JMC adding that JCB machines and super-suckers have also been pressed into services to accomplish the de-silting task of drains and deep drains.
He claimed that Shakti Nagar Nallah, Krishna Nagar Nallah, Landoi Choi Nallah, Indira Chowk Nallah, Aap Shambhu Road Culvert and Lower Muthi Nallah are notorious for causing problems due to blockages in rainy days.
“There may be more such deep drains but so far those have not been brought to our notice by the concerned Councillors,” Singh said adding that some Nallahs earlier were very tough to de-silt as those were encroached but now encroachment from many of such deep drains like the one at Nai Basti has been removed so there are no reports of their overflowing now.
When contacted JMC Mayor, Chander Mohan Gupta informed that he along with many senior officers of the Corporation remained in field throughout the day monitoring cleanliness and de-silting operations to avoid repeat of floods from blocked drainage system.
He advised the city people to refrain from throwing garbage into drains and avoid single use plastic as most of the blockages are caused by such activities.
“People spend Rs. 80 lakh in construction of houses but throw the debris in deep drain which would hardly required, Rs 800 for its proper disposal” Gupta said adding that JMC is fining such people and will go more strict in days to come.
Meanwhile, complains continued from different JMC Wards regarding water-logging and dirty water of drains coming out on streets and roads and even entering residential houses in different areas falling within JMC limits in the ongoing rainy season.
“Dilapidated Landoi Choi Nallah was poorly de-silted which led much of its dirty water to flow on streets at Ajeet Nagar and Bhour camp areas,” said Yudhvir Singh, Ward 73 Councillor adding that water even entered PDD Power Station in Lower Gadigarh near police post.
Similarly, Ward 48 (Bahu Fort area) Councillor, Sham Lal claimed that Gorakh Nagar-Poonch Basti Nallah and Rajiv Nagar Nallah in his Ward have foundations badly damaged which led seepage to the foundations of adjoining houses thereby making them vulnerable.
“I have many times brought the matter into the notice of helmsmen at JMC but nothing has been done so far,” he said adding that detailed project report for the work has also been prepared for Gorakh Nagar-Poonch Basti Nallah.
“Rainfall is wreaking havoc in Dodhi Gujjar Colony in Bhatindi where the water entered four residential houses and damaged many household items,” said Chowdhary Sobat Ali, Councillor Ward 74 adding that Sainik Colony area of his Ward too faced similar situation where water entered in two houses and four houses were affected in Jalalabad-Sunjwan in a similar way while some area of Indira Enclave Extension Sector-D also remained a victim of similar problem.