Srinagar, Apr 23: It has been a hard tread and difficult living during rains for Nigeen area residents, whose houses are on the roadside, as they get drenched in mud slush during winter and spring while dust engulfs them in summer forcing them to seal their homes with no breathing space around.
 The incessant rains during this week have propelled filthy water out of drains making it difficult for the residents of Nigeen to move around.
 “Even otherwise it is very difficult to walk on the road that is inundated,” said Ghulam Muhammad Mir.
 The dilapidated condition of the road stretch particularly from Nigeen Club to Hazratbal Chowk has been there since 2005 when the road was dug to expand drainage system.
 It took over a couple of years before the completion of drainage system, after which some road repairs were made. However, residents said, the road was again dug in 2008 for laying of pipeline.
 “This is not an end to it. In 2009 the road was dug once again for drainage work and the task is yet to be accomplished,” they said. 
 The residents told Greater Kashmir that the water filled in drains that were under construction has entered their houses and damaged them.
 “The drain water is making way to our houses resulting in damage,” they said.
 The house in particular of Ghulam Rasool Dar has got damaged due to constant flow of drain water. “We had time and again brought the issue into the notice of the authorities, but to no avail,” Dar said.
 The residents said during past four months they had been pleading before the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) to install motors there and get the water drained out.
  “When they could spend crores of rupees on the construction of drain, why can’t they spend a few thousand rupees on installing motors?” asked Mir, adding that they had particularly raised the issue with executive engineer and vice-chairman LAWDA.
 When contacted, vice chairman LAWDA, Irfan Yaseen, said it was the job of Srinagar Municipal Corporation to install motors.
 “So the residents should contact them,” he said. On completion of the drain, he said, “It will take another 10 days.”
The road that was dug last year for drainage work is prone to frequent traffic jams posing problems to the commuters.
“And when the weather is hot, the entire area remains engulfed in billows of dust that lead to nasal, throat and eye infections and even chest ailments,” the residents added.
“The authorities should at least consider that this road leads to Hazratbal shrine, Kashmir University and National Institute of Technology,” they argued.
The resident appealed chief minister Omar Abdullah to intervene in the matter.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 24 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 24 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 25 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST