Flood preparedness needs urgent attention: GCC

Srinagar, Sep 07: The Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) Saturday urged the Jammu and Kashmir administration to pay urgent attention to flood preparedness.

A statement of the Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) issued here said that the GCC, a non-political collective of retired civil servants, judges, and other professionals, convened to address pressing issues affecting Jammu and Kashmir, with a particular focus on Kashmir.

“One of the primary concerns raised during the meeting was the J&K’s flood preparedness. The GCC noted with alarm that the level of readiness for flood events has seen little improvement since the devastating floods of 2014. In light of this, the GCC issued a stern warning to the J&K government, urging immediate action to implement effective flood prevention and mitigation measures. The collective emphasised the need for robust strategies to minimise damage to life and property, particularly in the event of another flood on the scale of 2014,” the statement said.

The GCC also deliberated on the Srinagar Smart City project, expressing dissatisfaction with the current focus.

The group finalised a draft presentation calling for a reassessment of the project’s priorities.

It urged the authorities to prioritise essential infrastructural improvements like road widening, drainage enhancements, sewage treatment, and solid waste management.

“This appeal aims to address critical issues that affect daily life and public health in the city,” the statement said.

In addition to the primary issues, the GCC discussed the new Wakaf Bill 2024, which has been referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).

“The collective decided to submit its concerns regarding certain provisions of the bill to the JPC,” the statement said.

Addressing environmental and community issues, the GCC highlighted the need for a plastic-free approach to wedding functions in Kashmir.

They called for proactive intervention from NGOs and Mohalla Committees to enforce the existing ban on single-use plastics and to encourage citizens and shopkeepers to cease the use of plastic bags.

The GCC also addressed the problem of noise pollution from loudspeakers at religious places.

They proposed a weekly roster system for ‘Azan’ (call to prayer) to ensure that the call for prayers comes from only one Masjid per neighborhood at a time, thereby reducing noise levels.

On the subject of solid waste management, the GCC expressed disappointment with the lack of progress in Srinagar.

They called on the J&K government to improve waste management systems and to focus on the restoration of the city's lakes, including Brarinambal, Khushal Sar, and Aanchar.

The GCC also advocated for the restoration of existing Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and the installation of new STPs to meet the city's growing needs.

The meeting concluded with a unified call for prompt and effective action from the J&K government on these critical issues to ensure the well-being and development of J&K.