Srinagar, Aug 14: Despite the intervention of State Pollution Control Board that this colony in Kursoo Raj Bagh locality was facing severe inconvenience due to faulty drainage system which resulted in accumulation of sewage in a  locality, the concerned department has failed to provide any respite even though the problem persists for around a decade.
 The residents of Iqbal Colony Kursoo said for the past around a decade due to a faulty drainage system the sewage spills into a vacant land near Jhelum banks there.
 “A worst level of pollution in our locality (Iqbal Colony) is caused due to domestic and untreated sewage of Pathanbagh and Kursoo Rajbagh drawn towards our locality through two dewatering pumps near Hotel Prime,” the Iqbal Welfare Society President said in a statement.
 “Due to non provision of proper drainage system, the sewage spills into open till it accumulates in a big piece of land before merging in Jehlum,” he added.
 “Due to accumulation of the untreated sewage, the foul smell which arises in the atmosphere has made our lives miserable especially during ongoing summer days,” he added.
 The Mohalla welfare president said: “Stagnant water has become a breeding place for mosquitoes and it is now feared that an epidemic may break out at any time thereby endangering the health of the people of this locality.”
 The locals said the problem wasn’t new but dates back to 2003.
 “That year the Regional Director Pollution Control Board Srinagar was pleased to inspect our area and accordingly they submitted a report to the concerned. But to our surprise no action has been taken till date,” he added.
 Official documents reveal that on June 28 2003, the SPCB Director shot a letter to the UEED saying the problem posed threat to health of the people.
 “This office is in receipt of several complaints from the residents of Iqbal  Colony Zero bridge Srinagar against  unhygienic conditions in the area,” the Director wrote in the letter vide No SPCB/ROK/ICS/03/31/20-22.
 “Complaint was examined and stands verified as genuine. The open drain flowing through the residential  area poses great threat to the health and safety  of people in the locality. Pumps have been installed adjacent  to the drain pumping untreated effluence from  Pathan Bagh and Kurshoo Rajbagh area, which ultimately drains  untreated into the Jehlum, polluting it,” he added.
 “You are advised to look into the matter and take remedial measures to safeguard public health and environment and redress  public grievance at an earliest,” the official added.
 Meanwhile the locals have appealed Divisional Commissioner Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon to look into the matter.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 14 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 14 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 15 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST