Srinagar, May 9: Even as the water logging and inundation of low-lying areas due to downpours has become routine, the multi-crore projects, aimed at ending the problem are unlikely to bring respite to masses as one has missed the deadline and another is yet to take off. 
 At present various projects, aimed at establishing proper drainage and sewerage systems, are going on in the summer capital. These include Rs 130 crore sewerage project under National Urban Renewal Mission and four drainage projects undertaken by Economic Reconstruction Agency, funded by Asian Development Bank. The NURM, aimed at separating the drainage and sewerage was taken up in Zone III of the city over a year ago has missed the February, 2010 deadline.
 “The executing agency, National Building Construction Corporation, has sought extension till October. It is yet to start connecting houses to the sewerage network which will delay the completion,” they said.
 At present, all areas in the summer capital have common drains for sewerage and drainage which, according to officials, result in inundation, overflow and water logging during rains. Both the water and sewerage goes into common drains which, technical officer Urban Engineering and Environment Department, Bashir Ahmad Shah, said, not only overburdens the system, but pollutes water bodies also.
 “Once that is done, the old drains can be used for drainage,” he said. Pertinently, the project is restricted to Zone III of the city which includes Lal Bazaar, Soura and most old city areas while the newly established colonies in civil lines have been suffering in absence of drainage. The problem becomes evident during rains when the lanes and bi-lanes are submerged.
 Senior officials in the city drainage division, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, said there wasn’t any full fledged drainage programme for the Zone I and II mostly comprising the civil lines areas. “A multi-crore drainage project was in the offing under NURM which was to be headed by SMC. But it had to be commissioned through a consultancy which couldn’t be managed. Right now the project has almost lapsed for NURM has already reached completion,” they said.
 The officials said the limited funding from the state wasn’t enough for constructing drainage system in the city. “We need a massive project to be funded by external agency,” they said.
 The construction of drains in some areas has been taken up by ERA which includes projects at Rawalpora-Tengpora, Pohru Chowk-Chanapora, and Bemina Chowk-Parimpora Fruit Mandi.
 The officials, however, said ADB was mulling to start a major drainage project here. “They had sent a feasibility report to UEED, but the detailed project report is yet to be submitted.”
 The authorities blame existing drainage/sewerage system and encroachments in flood channels responsible for drainage problems in the city.
 The superintendent engineer City Drainage Division, SMC, Anil Kaul, said the residential colonies had been set up in flood spill channels “and naturally they will face problems.”
 “We are working on it, but it will take time,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 9 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 9 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 10 May 2010 00:00:00 IST