I&FC dept to undertake massive anti-encroachment drive in Srinagar city

Srinagar, Aug 02: In an attempt to save Srinagar city from water logging and flood threats, the government has decided to undertake dredging in river Jhelum basins and other tributaries from Sumbal and other areas to ensure that water is discharged smoothly upto the basins at the times of rains and flood like situations.
Sources in the government said that the irrigation and flood control has begun an exercise to identify and remove all kinds of encroachments from the water bodies and canals in and around Srinagar city. Sources said that I&FC department has decided to revive the traditional water canals in Srinagar city besides removing encroachments from flood canals. The executive engineers of various I&FC divisions have been directed to prepare a roadmap for undertaking the encroachment removal exercise.
Secretary I&FC Farooq Ahmad Shah has confirmed to Kashmir News Service (KNS) that the government was considering to revive the traditional water bodies and streams in the city. He said that many water canals in the city have been encroached upon resulting in the blockade of water discharge at times of heavy rains and flood like situations. Shah added that a comprehensive anti-encroachment drive is being worked out and his department would soon undertake the drive. (KNS)

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