The State Human Rights Commission on Thursday issued a notice to Srinagar Municipal Corporation on a petition seeking directions to the Commission to outline policy to prevent water logging in the summer capital Srinagar.
The notice was issued after rights activists Muhammad AhsanUntoo filed a petition before the SHRC. The petition has been listed forconsideration on Monday.
The notice was issued by Jung Bahadur Singh Jamwal, memberSHRC and the SMC has been directed to submit reply without any delay.
In his plea, the petitioner has said that on July 25,follwing the rainfall, the entire drainage system in the city got chocked andall major routes leading to Hari Singh High Street, main Lal Chowk, RegalChowk, Paladium Gali, Polo view, Kursoo Rajbagh, Jawahar Nagar, LD Hospital, Rainawari, Old Barzulla had got submerged.
The petion says that the areas house important offices likecivil secretariat, High Court and Divisional Commissioner’s office.
“Due to water logging, havoc was created in Srinagar and itseemed that the city was in flood,” the petition says, alleging thatauthorities failed to carry timely de-watering.
The petition says that water logging creates problems forthe commuters and school going children, adding that the authorities were dutybound to provide all facilities to the citizens including proper drainagesystem.
The petitioner besides seeking policy for prevention of thewater logging has also sought direction to the SMC to inform the SHRC aboutinterim measures taken by it regarding dewatering of the affected areas.