Srinagar, Aug 06(KNO): Senior BJP leader and DDC member for Khonmoh, Er Aijaz Hussain, met the Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control department Kashmir, Er B J Sharma, in Srinagar. During the meeting, he raised several public importance issues related to the Lal Chowk Assembly segment, including providing proper permits to Jehlum dwellers, including Hanjis involved in dredging and sand extraction, and repairing critical river embankment points from Lasjan to Padshahi Bagh to prevent floods.
Er Aijaz Hussain met the CE I&FC in his office chambers and submitted a detailed list of demands presented by the locals during his recent visit to the Lal Chowk constituency. He emphasized the need for proper permits for Jehlum dwellers, including Hanjis, to carry on dredging and sand extraction without hassle, as their livelihood has depended on it for decades. He highlighted that illegal mining is currently ongoing, and the Hanjis do not want to engage in illegal activities when the government has already notified that they can extract sand and silt using traditional methods.
Addressing another critical issue, Er Aijaz Hussain called for the immediate repair and upgradation of essential points on the Jehlum river embankment from Lasjan to Padshahi Bagh, stating that any breach at these points could lead to a flood-like situation. He urged the CE I&FC to address this issue on a fast-track basis, to which the CE I&FC assured priority attention.
The BJP leader also discussed the long-pending demand of dredging the flood channel at Padshahi Bagh, Srinagar. The CE I&FC assured him that the dredging process would commence shortly.
Er Aijaz Hussain further raised the issue of upgrading and repairing the Irrigation Canal at Khonmoh block to make paddy land cultivable again, benefiting the local population. He requested the immediate commencement of the project for the larger interests of the people of Khonmoh.
Additionally, the DDC member discussed the need for establishing a de-watering station at Balhama, for which a Rs 90 lakh worth DPR has already been prepared. He noted that during the 2014 floods, almost 2000 hectares of land at Balhama were submerged and continue to remain under water in the absence of a de-watering station. Er Aijaz Hussain urged the CE I&FC to address this issue immediately, emphasizing that starting the de-watering station would enable local residents to resume paddy cultivation, enhancing self-sustainability in Balhama and Khonmoh-(KNO)