Srinagar, March 25: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday informed the House that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the construction of a drainage system in Shivpora, Batwara, Indra Nagar and Sonwar areas of Srinagar is currently under review.
The statement came in response to a question raised by National Conference MLA Sheikh Ahsan Ahmad Pardesi, who sought clarification on the state of the sewage and drainage system in these areas. He asked whether there were proper drainage facilities in these parts of Srinagar and highlighted the issue of water accumulation during rainfall, which leads to inundation in the said localities.
In his reply, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the portfolio of the Housing and Urban Development Department (H&UDD), said: “Shivpora, Batwara, Indra Nagar and Sonwar are all part of Srinagar city.” However, he added, “A significant portion of Batwara, Indra Nagar, Sonwar, and Shivpora falls under the jurisdiction of the army (Cantonment area). As a result, the Badami Bagh Cantonment Board is responsible for maintaining civic amenities like drainage and sewage in these areas.”
The CM further said that some areas face water accumulation due to the limited capacity of the existing drainage network. “To address this, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has set up three permanent dewatering stations which are fully functional. These stations are located in Indra Nagar, Sonwar Bagh, and Shivpora, with capacities of 45 cusecs, 16 cusecs, and 30 cusecs, respectively,” he informed the Assembly.
Additionally, he mentioned that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for a stormwater drainage network covering uncovered areas in Shivpora, Batwara, Indra Nagar, and Sonwar has been prepared and is “currently under review by the department.”
