Srinagar, Apr 21: With surge in water level of river Jhelum, the embankment at Shivpora Bund where erstwhile flood gauge was installed and now lies defunct, is on the verge of developing cracks after paramilitary troopers stationed there extricated a portion of it for bunker building.
 The excavation of this vital bund at Shivpora ‘B’ has triggered panic in the area with the residents demanding immediate intervention from the flood control department to save the City from flooding because the extrication by CRPF troopers has damaged the crucial embankment.
 “We did inform the CRPF men who had constructed a large bunker on the bund to refrain from removing the mud from the embankment which could trigger breach and water could force its way into the civilian population,” said a group of residents who were attempting to stabilise it.
 “They (CRPF men) didn’t pay heed to our pleas and now we are left with no choice but to guard it from being flooded if any breach occurs,” the residents told this reporter at the spot.
 According to them, they did inform the flood control department on Tuesday evening and an official of flood control department did visit the spot for assessment but nothing concrete has been done for repairs.
 “The deliberate damage to the Bund anywhere along the River Jhelum is an offence and punishable act since it could endanger lives of people in case of breach,” said advocate Riyaz Khawar who resides in Shivpora B.
 Apart from damaged crucial embankment, the flood gauge installed decades ago lies defunct since it remained under the bunker for the years.
 “The flood control department should renovate and restore it to its original condition since this was an important instrument to check the level of water level of river Jhelum,” said Muhammad Akbar, a resident.
 But for the moment, the residents have sounded alert about the damaged bund and are preparing to face the worst.
 When contacted Chief Engineer Flood Control and Irrigation Najeebullah said the Shiv Pora residents had complained of the damage caused to the bund by the CRPF bunker.
 “We have assessed the damage and within two days we’ll be correcting it,” the Chief Engineer told Greater Kashmir.
We did inform the CRPF men who had constructed a large bunker on the bund to refrain from removing the mud from the embankment which could trigger breach and water could force its way into the civilian population, but they didn’t pay any heed

Lastupdate on : Wed, 21 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 22 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST