Ganderbal, June 13: A long-pending drainage project in Madina Colony, Beehama area in Ganderbal has triggered frustration and alarm among residents.
Despite the Municipal Council Ganderbal reportedly releasing funds for the project, the work remains incomplete. Locals claim the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department assigned the job to a contractor who has failed to carry out even the basic groundwork properly. Open manholes, dug-up lanes, and stagnant wastewater have turned the locality into a potential health hazard.
“We have repeatedly approached the concerned authorities, but no one listens. The situation is getting worse every day,” said a local resident. Several women from the colony expressed fear for their children’s safety, saying they no longer allow them to play outside due to the open manholes and unsafe paths.
Javid Ahmad, a local social worker, criticized the selection of contractors. “The contract was given to someone with no expertise,” he said.
Another resident, Mohammad Ashraf, highlighted the dangers posed by incomplete and poorly designed sections of the drain. “It’s not just an inconvenience anymore—it’s a daily struggle. People are forced to walk through filth and rubble,” he said.
In response, Executive Engineer R&B Ganderbal, Hamid Iqbal Mir, acknowledged the delay. He stated that a land dispute among local residents was one of the reasons the work was stalled. “The Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal has taken note of the issue and directed Tehsildar Ganderbal to resolve the matter. Once the dispute is cleared, the drainage work will be completed in the next few days,” Mir said.
He said there is already a 90% work completed and rest of the work will be completed after the dispute between two inhabitants cleared.
