Waterlogging exposes defunct drainage system in Srinagar

Srinagar, Jul 8: Waterlogging in various areas of Srinagar after an intense spell of rain has raised questions about the newly constructed drainage system under the Smart City project.

Rains turned into a nightmare for people as the city’s drainage system collapsed within minutes, and waterlogging inundated several areas of the city. In several areas of Downtown, drainage water entered shops and houses, causing extensive damage. Angry residents accused the authorities of turning the city into a cesspool instead of improving civic amenities. “Water seeped into our house from the drainage line at Khanyar, something that has never happened here at this scale. They call it Smart City!. In reality, millions of taxpayers' money has been wasted,” said Abdul Hamid, a local from Downtown.

The videos of the submerged city areas busted the much hyped balloon of Smart City as drain water entered residential houses and shop. Across Nowhatta, manholes overflowed with drainage water, bursting out like mega cesspool fountains. This is shocking. Why is no one being held accountable? Where is the responsibility when this is happening after just a brief rainfall? We want probe into drainage construction and punishment to the accused officials?,” said Ghulam Ahmad, a local from the Nowhatta area.

Prominent roads, including the vital Airport Road and Boulevard Road, were also submerged, adding chaos. At Rajouri Kadal, shocking scenes unfolded as medical shops were inundated, forcing shopkeepers to move medicines to safer places hurriedly. A group of traders complained that even during the devastating 2014 floods, Downtown areas hadn't witnessed such swift waterlogging.

President of Shaher-e-Khaas Traders Alliance, Nazir Ahmad Shah, said such large-scale waterlogging happened first time in the Downtown areas. “We demand cleaning of all drains in Downtown and regular maintenance. Due to lack of a proper drainage system, traders and locals are suffering,” Shah added.

Ayaz Zehgeer, a representative of the Beopar Mandal Maharaj Gun,j said, “Our business hubs in Downtown are facing losses due to the defunct drainage system. We are now literally under water after every spell of rain. Before the so-called Smart City works began, such things didn’t happen. Even in 2014’s worst floods, our markets didn’t submerge like this.”

Meanwhile, the situation was no better for commuters. Roads resembled canals, with partially submerged vehicles and pedestrians walking through knee-deep water. Many complained that Srinagar, especially its Downtown areas, has become unlivable due to recurring civic issues.

“Once known for its glorious heritage, the city’s Downtown is now infamous for drainage failures, open manholes, traffic jams, and poor civic management. I believe if someone is in the conditions to move out of Downtown, he should, as the city is no longer livable,” said Altaf Ahmad, a local,

Residents and traders are now demanding a thorough probe into how crores of rupees spent on drainage projects have yielded such disastrous results. “There must be accountability. The city deserves better than this,” said another trader.