J-K govt 'lackadaisical' towards Jhelum's dredging: PDP MLA

Ruling PDP MLA Altaf Bukhari today criticised the Jammu and Kashmir government for its "lackadaisical" attitude towards dredging of River Jhelum post 2014 floods and called for corrective measures for speedy execution of the project.
"The dredging project was chalked out to help increase the carrying capacity of river Jhelum and its flood spill channels. But the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities has so far yielded minimal desired results in that direction," Bukhari said in a statement.
Expressing concern over slow pace of dredging, Bukhari, who was Works minister in Mufti Mohammad Sayeed led PDP-BJP government, called for corrective measures to be taken to get the project executed expeditiously in a time bound manner.

He stressed on removal of bottlenecks which have so far hampered the overall progress in achievement of the desired results.
Bukhari said the government should keenly manage and supervise this important and critical project keeping in consideration the level of devastation caused by the September 2014 floods in Kashmir especially in Srinagar city.
The floods caused huge silt deposition all along the river path from Sangam to Srinagar. In such a condition, the experts have already warned of an immense threat to most of the Municipal areas in Srinagar city.

However, the cumulative dredging work done in River Jhelum so far indicates that the authorities are hardly moved by the havoc created by September 2014 floods, the Amirakadal MLA said.

Bukhari said the time limit for the completion of the dredging project should be the top priority of the authorities.
The reports about the capacity of presently operating dredgers in River Jhelum are disturbing. So the executing agency needs to go for segment dredging with a combination of appropriate marine equipment to be installed at the vulnerable locations, he added.