Deadlock between residents living in vicinity of Hokersar wetland and authorities has brought work on flood spill channel to halt, resulting in loss of precious months for dredging.
From September, water level in Jhelum River comes down to lowest and the next three to four months are considered to be ideal for dredging and de-siltation of river and flood spill channel.
The flood spill channel which starts from Padshahibagh regulates water level in the river while it passes through city. Residents of Hajibagh area near Hokarsar are demanding construction of bund in the area “in violation of Supreme Court orders to allow de-silting. They have allegedly taken control of machinery in the area and want execution of project as per their own will.
Recently, police and officials from civil administration tried to negotiate with the locals and urged them to allow irrigation and flood control department to execute project as per approved plan.
However, the deadlock could not be ended. Locals are claiming that the area where they want construction of bund was not the part of Hokarsar.
A police-public meeting chaired by SDPO West Srinagar Masadiq Basu was also held few days ago at Hajibagh wherein locals were urged to not make any hindrance in execution of the project.
“In this meeting, officials from wildlife, revenue and irrigation and flood control department were also present. We urged locals and their Mohalla representatives to not make any hindrance in execution of the project. We also asked them to make proper representation before competent authorities to seek redress of grievance, if any,” Basu told Greater Kashmir.
Authorities had also asked revenue officials and wildlife department to fix a date for demarcation of land to end controversy regarding claims and counter claims between locals and wildlife authorities. “However, the scheduled date was deferred after recent snowfall,” said an official.
Abdur Rouf Zargar wildlife warden wetland, Kashmir division said the area at Hajibagh has been notified as protected area in 1947.
“There is not a single person who has documents to claim any ownership rights over this government land. If anyone claims to be owner of the piece of land that falls in notified area at Hokarsar, the procedure for him is to apply before concerned deputy commissioner to seek appropriate redress,” he said, adding, “The land in question at Hajibagh will be demarcated shortly.”
Experts said the deadlock needs to be ended without any further delay as only these few months were best for dredging and de-siltation.
Executive engineer flood spill channel Muhammad Aslam Zargar said project will be executed as per approved plan. “We will take action under law in case there is any illegal hindrance in any form from locals,” he added.
The present capacity of flood spill channel is around 4,000 cusecs in Srinagar and it progressively decreases on way to northern Kashmir. The restoration work is aimed to increase its water carrying capacity up to 30,000 cusecs through various phases.