PAMPORE: Residents in Pampore area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district have appealed authorities of flood control department for construction of concrete bund along river Jhelum near Sericulture head office Galander on the old Srinagar-Jammu highway.
Locals of the area informed Kashmir Reader that a portion of bund on Jhelum was damaged near Galander beneath Kandizal Pampore bridge in 2014.
“The river had breached here in 2014 due to which many parts of Pampore and adjoining areas had been inundated, “ the locals said, adding that the office building of sericulture, saffron fields, and apple orchards and HPCL gas plant were too damaged.
The locals told Kashmir Reader that damaged part of the bund was temporary repaired by filling with sacks of soil in 2014.
“The sacks have been decomposed and the bund collapsed again,” Mohammad Sultan Shah, Secretary General of Idaara Auqaaf Islamia Trust, Pampore told Kashmir Reader.
He added that they requested authorities of flood control for construction of a concrete bund but they turned a deaf ear to their pleas.
He said that they were assured by authorities that a plan for concrete bund will be made soon but that plan never came up before public.
“The damaged bund poses a threat to our lives and property as Jhelum can breach here with slight raise in water level,” he said.
The residents appealed authorities and flood control department for construction of a concrete bund before time to secure their lives and property.
On 7 of September 2014, the saffron town of Pampore was completely submerged in water worst floods. The bunds of river Jhelum, roads, scores residential houses other public property, court complex, PDD receiving station, schools, Sericulture office, orchards, paddy fields and other properties suffered heavy damage in the devastating floods, locals said.
Assistant Executive Engineer Flood Control department Pampore, Faisal Farooq told Kashmir Reader that short term measure would not work.
“ The spot will be taken up in next year,” he said.

BILAL HABIB