Jhelum Task Force Formed; Section 144 Around Embankments

SRINAGAR — In order to stop littering and dumping of solid waste into river Jhelum, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan today directed Deputy Commissioners Anantnag, Pulwama, Srinagar, Baramulla and Bandipora to impose section 144 immediately around Jhelum embankments and take strict action against the culprits.

 The Div Com also constituted Jhelum Task Force (JTF) for Anantnag, Pulwama, Srinagar, Baramullah and Bandipora districts, where the river Jhelum flows. The concerned DCs are its heads and the officers of Environment, Pollution Control Board, Forest, Urban Local Bodies, Muncipal Committees and Srinagar Muncipal Corporation (SMC) are its members.

 The JTF members will personally review the implementation of section 144 and also review the cleanliness and eco-restoration works of the river. The JTF will send the complete report with photo and video graphic evidences to the Divisional Task Force which is headed by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and heads of Environment, Pollution Control Board, Forest, Urban Local Bodies, Municipal Committees and Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) are its members. 

Divisional Commissioner made these remarks while reviewing the progress of conservation and preservation works of the river Jhelum. 

The meeting was informed that Urban Local Bodies (ULB) had released Rs 4.50 lakh each to concerned Deputy Commissioners to procure container vehicles for lifting of solid waste from the embankments of river Jhelum. To create mass awareness programme regarding the cleanliness of river Jhelum, ULB had released Rs 1.42 crore to all Municipal Committees and Panchayats. Pamphlets, Jingles, spots, quickies, debates, seminars, rallies and other awareness programmes will be held around the areas of river Jhelum. 

The Divisional Commissioner directed SMC to start intense drive to curb polythene menace around the Jhelum embankments, besides Irrigation and Flood Control department was also directed to start an anti-encroachment drive and also do beautification work on both sides of the river Jhelum. 

Khan asked officers to double their efforts and utilize their expertise for the speedy eco-restoration and conservation of the river Jhelum and send their action taken report to the Divisional Commissioners office immediately. 

Additional Commissioner Kashmir, Tasaduq Hussain Mir, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudury, Chief Engineer Irrigation & Flood Control, Director Urban Local Bodies, Regional Director State Pollution Control Board, Commissioner SMC and other officers were present in the meeting where as Deputy Commissioners of Anantnag, Pulwama, Baramullah and Bandipora districts participated the meeting through video conferencing. 

Panel To Work For Demarcation Of Water Bodies    

The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan today constituted a High-Powered Monitoring Committee for re-establishing and proper demarcation of streams, wetland, lakes, rivers, tributaries, flood basins and other water bodies across the valley, which were blocked due to high silt accumulation during 2014 floods. 

Officers from Irrigation and Flood Control, Rakhs & Farms, Revenue, Forest and Wild Life Departments are the members of the Water Bodies Monitoring Committee. 

The Divisional Commissioner directed the committee members to start complete mapping through Geo-tagging with satellite images, field survey, data collection, pillar erection locations on encroached and blocked areas of all water bodies and flood basins across the valley. 

The committee will also prepare financial implications for dredging and other works for re-establishing of existing network of all water bodies and flood basins across the valley and submit the complete report to Divisional Commissioner’s office within three months for further necessary action. 

Additional Commissioner Kashmir, Tasaduq Hussain Mir, Chief Engineer Irrigation & Flood Control, Ashok Kumar Sharma, VC LAWDA, G. Prasanna Ramaswamy, Regional Wild Life Warden, Rashid Naqash, Conservator of Forest, Irfan Ali Shah, Superintending Engineer UEED, Altaf Ahmad Koul and other concerned officers were present in the meeting.