Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, today convened a meeting to review the progress on execution of works on the Jhelum Flood Spill Channel.

Besides Deputy Commissioners of Budgam and Bandipora, who joined the meeting through Video Conferencing, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Chief Engineer Irrigation & Flood Control (I&FC), Assistant Commissioner, Revenue, Deputy Director Planning and other concerned officials attended the meeting.

Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, informed the meeting that some 974 kanals of land falling within the Budgam district come under the project, adding that the administration has deployed men and machinery to cut thousands of trees falling within the area.

Reiterating the importance of this channel for the safeguard of Srinagar City from floods, the Div Com directed for clearing the area on war-footing basis. He also directed the district administration to provide adequate force to the concerned department in order to manage any law & order situations.

It was given out that the proceeds after the auction of the chopped tress in State land will be given to the locals as per their entitlements who have planted it after proper verifications.

With regard to the status of land falling within the project in the Srinagar district, the Div Com was informed that the entire area of 241 kanals falling within the project is Gair Mumkin Khul and that no compensation is due against its acquirement. Whereas in respect to Bandipora, the Div Com was informed that compensation is due to be paid to private owners only for 22.50 kanals out of the total 113 kanals which fall within the project in the district.

The Div Com asked all the concerned officials to speed up the pace of work and complete this project in the stipulated time frame so that Srinagar is saved from floods in future.

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