THE alleged vandalization of Zaina Kadal bridge is so hasty a decision that the government didn’t even bother to have a look of the ground situation but instead started construction of shops over a mega water pipeline thereby risking this vital supply to one lakh odd inhabitants in the densely populated area.
 Not only this, as the wooden frames for the GI sheet roofing fabricated shops couldn’t be fixed properly over the 300 MM pipeline, the administration had decided to drill screws into the supply line –something which could leave thousands of taps dry as the pipe was feared to break into pieces.
 This all isn’t any sequence from hilarious Tom and Jerry show, which makes laughingstock out of anything; but something which the National Conference led government is doing in Shaher-e-Khaas. And it’s happening despite the fact that the party swears to be working for the revival of the lost glory of the old City, inhabited for the past over six centuries.

THE PIPELINE
 The thick metallic water supply line coming from Rangil Master Plan runs parallel to the bridge towards its fence on the north and feeds the left river areas like Zaina Kadal, Makdoom Kocha, Qalamdan Pora, Nawa Kadal, Pather Masjid and Fateh Kadal.
 This pipeline, which is some two feet high, is scheduled to be the base for the shops towards the rear while wooden frame will provide support towards the front of the shop line.
 With this in mind, Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation(JKPCC) started work on the sheds expected to house 20 shops on the bridge across Jhelum.
 But as towards the rear, the wooden frames couldn’t be fixed properly on the base pipe, the government top-brass is understood to have told the JKPCC to drill the nails into pipeline to make the foundation strong.
 “But the JKPCC engineers turned down the idea saying it could be disastrous for the pipeline and the shops, alike,” said a senior official requesting not to be named.

PHE FACTOR
 Sources said even though the idea to drill the water-pipeline for firm support to the upcoming shops was turned down by the engineers, the Public Health Engineering department came up with its reservations for construction on the water supply line.
 “What if, when the shops will be operational, someday the pipe bursts? How much damage it will cause to the shopkeepers and how much time it will take for repairs because all the shops will have to be removed in such a situation?” several queries like these were raised by the PHE Water Supply Master Plan Division Srinagar, Soura.
 Finally, the concerned PHE wing is understood to a have shot a letter to the JKPCC Unit Ist people asking to them to refrain from construction over the pipes.
 “How can we allow construction over the pipeline? Imagine if the pipe breaches someday… A vast population will be left without water for days together,” said a senior PHE official requesting not to be named. 

CONTRADICTORY TIMELINE
 Notwithstanding Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah’s claims that the historic Zaina Kadal bridge would be conserved, the ground reality contradicts it. Experts on heritage, on the other hand, are all fire over the construction of shops, which they see as a move aimed at “uglification of historic old City.”
 Top sources told Greater Kashmir that the administration has been directed to go ahead with the development. 20 GI sheet roofing fabricated shops are coming up on the bridge, named after its founder, the 15th century emperor of Kashmir: Sultan Zain-Ul-Abideen.
 The government says the shops are being constructed to rehabilitate the shopkeepers whose establishments on the right of the river towards Vakil Manzil are to be removed for proposed road widening and construction of a new bridge.
 Even though the riverside majestic Vakil Manzil, which has hosted personalities including Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Dr Sir Muhammad Iqbal apart from being the office of Muslim Conference, the party which ultimately transformed into the present National Conference; the NC led government aspires to raze it to the ground. (To be concluded)

Lastupdate on : Wed, 7 Mar 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 7 Mar 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 8 Mar 2012 00:00:00 IST