In Umar Colony Lal Bazar, filthy water amid ‘official apathy’ leaves residents fuming

In Umar Colony Lal Bazar, filthy water amid ‘official apathy’ leaves residents fuming

Srinagar, July 29 (GNS): Filthy water from clogged up drainage and a Nallah is entering premises of homes of Umer Colony-A Lane No 5 area of Lal Bazar locality here, inundating some of them to ankle-deep water amid “continuous official apathy”.

The local residents alleged that authorities including J&K Lake Conservation and Management Authority are “doing nothing” and their continuous inaction in not unclogging drainage and blocked nallah has turned the area into “a living hell” for residents.

“The situation is extremely unpleasant or causes great suffering to us. The dirty water enters compounds of houses and with every bout of rain, the level raises and we have to wade through ankle-height water,” the locals of Lane No 5, Umer Colony A, Lal Bazar Srinagar, told GNS.

The drainage and nallah, they said, pass from the backside of their houses and due to the blockage of drain and nallah, the grimy water enters residential houses. “We have been repeatedly requesting and pleading with authorities to come to our rescue but they pay no heed,” they said, adding, “The illegal earth filling done around by some influential people has also affected the natural drainage system and it has in turn terribly affected our peaceful living,” they said. The foul smell emanating from the water, they said, is “nauseating.”

The locals also alleged that their resort to online complaints to LG’s grievance cell have not yielded any results also.

“We submitted complaints even to much-talked about grievance cell but to no avail,” the local residents said.

“The authorities must act with promptitude so as to save us from nuisance due to the inundation and danger of diseases. We are made to bear the brunt for the failure of the concerned departments,” they said and urged higher authorities to intervene and ensure that the people of the area are not made to suffer continuously. (GNS)