KNB News Desk
Srinagar 9 September (KNB): An open pit on the road, falling in Diyarwani area of Batamaloo in central Kashmir’s Srinagar district, has troubled residents as commuting has become risky for the past several days.
Locals told news agency Kashmir News Bureau that maintenance work was initiated by a contractor, working under Sewerage and Drainage Division (second) which falls under the Housing and Urban Development Department, J&K, to decongest the drainage in the area but have left it incomplete.
“Maintenance work of drainage was initiated almost a week ago and it took them days to just dig the holes as they don’t even have proper equipment,” a local said, adding that the open pit poses danger to the commuters as well as residents of the area.
“There are children who usually play on these roads and a lot of vehicular movement is also witnessed but the concerned officials have shown lack of interest to complete the work here as the pit is still open,” he said, adding that the contractors on work have dug up the hole in the middle of the road and left it open for few days now.
Construction of drainage was also completed in a nearby area last month and now, as per KNB reports, construction of the manhole in Diyarwani area was taken up as well as decongestion of the same.
Another resident of Diyarwani told KNB that the workers on the job took up the work using hand tools, which is taking more time.
“Using hand tools in 21st century is lame, it is taking a lot of time to dig in due to the thickness of the surface increased over years of macadamization,” he said, adding that the work could be completed within hours if the proper machinery is used.
The local also alleged that the macadamization of the same link road—which connects the area to Srinagar’s District Court road— has been held up because of the drainage construction/maintenance.
“The whole link road, starting from Ziyarat Batamaloo till court road junction is a complete mess and dilapidated to its core,” he said, adding that even the people of the area are despaired about macadamization of the road taking place in this season.
He said that as per concerned SMC officials, only after the drainage related work would be completed, macadamization of the road could be taken up.
However, Assistant Executive Engineer, Wali Ullah, Sewerage and Drainage Division (Second) told KNB that construction of the manhole will be started again on Saturday and all other work will be completed in around 10 days.
AEE, Wali Ullah said, “Work was only stopped for a day or two because of an emergency related to drainage work in a nearby area (Dobi Mohalla). The problem was on the main road and that is why we had to take up the work immediately and shift our man-power as well.”
Further about the work in the Diyarwani area, Wali Ullah said, “We have been digging up the patch and then a manhole will be introduced there, as well as decongestion of the drainage will be done.”
He further assured that the work will be started on Saturday and completed within around 10 days.
“We’ll try our best to complete it as soon as possible but at the same time, cooperation of people is also important,” AEE added. (KNB)