Main drain of Baramulla town turns ‘death trap’ as several commuters, bikers fall in stinking drain
Beacon, MC and R&B shrug off the responsibility ,who will bell the cat?
Baramulla: While Baramulla district attained 3rd rank among Aspirational Districts in the country in the NITI Aayog’s Delta rankings, the picture of the Baramulla town with regard to development is grim as a major drain along highway in Baramulla town left open by authorities pose grave threats to commuters and pedestrians with locals terming it as ‘death trap’ as several people including elderly woman and dogs have fallen in the drain choke with filth and muck.
Shopkeepers and local inhabitants of the town told Kashmir Images that from last several years the drain constructed by Beacon remain choked as no de-silting was carried out besides the slab of the drain was badly damaged at several places.
“In 2018 we built a culvert on our own expenses on the drain which connected Madina market with the highway near fire service headquarters. However, authorities failed to clean and repair the drain due to which the people face a lot of hardships and the stinking drain carriers of diseases,” they added.
Recently, after huge public outcry, the District Administration asked the R&B to demolish the existing slab while the Municipality was asked to carry out de-silting.
“ Municipal Council Baramulla authorities opened the drain and started cleaning process but it has been a month now the drain was not reconstructed and covered due to which several people have fallen in this death trap but some were lucky and some were not. The accidents are grim reminders of how close death can be while travelling on this road,” said a daily commuter and local resident Waseem Ahmad.
They added that the entire Mohalla Jadeed is cut off from highway and inhabitants have to walk a kilometer to get milk, cooking gas and other essential commodities.
The locals further informed that a few days back beacon authorities had laid a slab of the drainage, however, substandard material was allegedly used due to which the slab collapsed a few days after triggering protests by traders and locals.
“We approached Deputy Commissioner Baramulla following that R&B was directed to reconstruct the drain. While the Beacon was asked to lay a fresh slap to cover the open drain, nothing has materialized so far,” another shopkeeper said.
The Chairman of Municipal Council Baramulla Tawseef Raina said that they have cleaned the drain by carrying out the de-silting and now the department of R&B and Beacon have to complete the rest of the work. “I hope within this week the drain will get complete,” he added.
O C Beacon couldn’t not be reached for his comments despite several attempts and text messages.