Jammu and Kashmir: Heavy Rainfall Exposes Faulty Development Model

The tall claims of ‘development’ by political parties are ruptured every monsoon after heavy rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir. And this is not something new but recurrent. In the state which is marred by conflict, development of its roads makes little news. But whenever it does, the authorities tend to turn a blind eye. Even this year, heavy downpour has wreaked havoc in the state with water logged roads, destruction of standing crops, potholes, disruption in traffic movement, flash floods and road blockades.

Hours of rainfall brought Srinagar to a standstill with roads submerged in water and residents panicking in anticipation of flood. Most of the major roads in the city remained water logged due to lack of proper drainage system. As per the reports, Srinagar’s busiest street, Lal Chowk, and various other link roads remained submerged for the day. The men put on charge by the administration were seen actively working to pump out the water from the roads but their last-minute efforts didn’t achieve much success because of heavy downpour.

Low lying areas like Natipora, Abu Bakar Colony, Mahboob Colony and others witnessed logged roads with knee-deep water confining residents in their homes. Other adjoining areas like Batmaalo witnessed water entering into their houses. While people expressed their anger against the authorities, they were also perpetually worried about floods. A resident of Srinagar, requesting anonymity, said, “This is not the first time. This has become normal now. Even slightest rainfall has the capability to halt the state because of the failure of the authorities to install proper drainage systems.”

Also read: Kashmir Floods Punctures Tall Claims of Irrigation Department, Locals Furious

The situation has exposed the lack of preparedness of the administration in tackling such situations. As per a local daily, CNS, of the 115 pumps put by the authorities, only 25 were put to use in the emergency situation. The Mayor of Srinagar city, Junaid Mattu, has shifted the blame on bureaucracy for the current situation. CNS quoted Mattu as saying “We have machines, but we don’t have adequate manpower, which makes us handicapped to handle emergency situations. Despite having a master plan for Srinagar in hand since long, there seems a lack of interest in government to implement it. Not even a single meeting of different agencies has so far been convened in this context. How can the objective of a better city achieved, when government seems to have no interest towards it.”

NewsClick tried calling Mattu but was unable to reach.

Besides the apathetic attitude of authorities, the drains in the state are also choked by the indifferent attitude of the residents. The drains in both regions are filled with solid waste, especially, polythenes, which doesn’t decompose. The solid wastes have halted the drains and there is no proper waste management at place.

Another resident from Kashmir, requesting anonymity, said, “While we keep on accusing authorities for everything wrong that happens to us, we need to make sure of certain things. This indifferent behaviour of throwing wastes in drains and canals impedes the flow and also chokes the system. We can do our bit by making sure that we are not adding to the existing misery.”

Meanwhile, in Jammu, the regular potholes and blacktopping have restricted the normal lives of the residents. Several roads in the Chenab valley district of Jammu region were blocked after flash floods and landslides hit Doda-Kishtwar National Highway.

A resident from Jammu said, “Nothing has happened in the name of development. Politicians remember development during elections, and rest of the time it is forgotten. Look at the condition of roads. Today, it took me one hour to reach a place which was 15 minutes away from my home. Then they talk about tax payers’ money. Where is tax payers’ money going if not in development?”

The Jammu-Srinagar highway has been suspended due to mudslides, rolling down of stones from hillocks overlooking the highway.