Minister aghast over slow progress on city drainage projects

Minister of state Housing and urban development (H&UD) Asiea Naqash Saturday expressed displeasure over the slow pace of work on drainage system in the summer capital under centrally sponsored scheme AMRUT.

The minister expressed her displeasure while chairing the review meeting of Srinagar municipal corporation (SMC).

   

During the meeting, the minister told officials that she had received lot of complaints from general public about the execution of drainage system at Shalteng.

She also expressed her displeasure over the “use of sub-standard material used in execution of drainage at Lal Bazar.”

Sources privy to the meeting told Greater Kashmir that the minister directed officials to execute projects within stipulated time.

Confirming the development, Aseia Naqash said that most the projects are running on good pace. “However, there were few complaints from the general public which I shared during the review meeting.”

She added that 84 percent of the work has been completed on the drainage project being executed at Sonwar and directed officials to complete the project within stipulated time.

“At Lal Bazar, various engineering specifications were not applied while construction of the drainage, resulting in its collapse. I asked the officials that no such negligence will be tolerated,” she said.

However, the minister expressed satisfaction over the execution of Swachh Bharat Mission and said that 50 percent improvement is on the ground.

“In sanitation, we have achieved lot. There are measures that are being taken presently to make the Srinagar garbage free city.  But I must say that sanitation has improved on ground and segregation of waste is being implemented in letter and spirit. It has also helped us lot to improve,” she said, adding, “The corporation needs more men and machinery to achieve the further goals.”

She informed that 6000 street lights have been installed by SMC in interior areas and more are coming up.

She added that 12 fountains in city which were defunct last year have been restored. “We have also taken care of Baba demb water body. All seepage and sewage to the water body have been stopped,” she said.

She informed that during the meeting, she directed officials to relax the rules for people seeking permission for construction of residential houses.

Similarly, SMC Commissioner Riyaz Ahmad Wani during the meeting informed that work is continuously being taken up on the ongoing drainage projects in Shalteng, Malbagh, Indra Nagar, Lal Chowk and other drainage schemes in the city.

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