Monsoon effect Solid waste threaten to block flow of water in Ranbir canal

Monsoon effect Solid waste threaten to block flow of water in Ranbir canal Nitesh Sangral JAMMU, Aug 23: Monsoon rains have not only exposed the working of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), but the tall claims of Irrigation and Flood Control department are also under scanner, due to the plight of the Ranbir canal. The canal, which passes through, many localities of the city become a big dumping ground and almost clogged by the polythene and other solid waste dumped by the people. Once considered as a life line of the Jammu region, canal, now stands testimony to the official apathy and rampant pollution. Mingled with sewage and muck, it usually flows in summers extending from Akhnoor to the tail end of Bhagwati Nagar, Talab Tillo, Gajansoo, Trikuta nagar, Satwari and other interior areas. However it is not only the department which is responsible for the plight of the water body, but people living around it are also responsible for present position. Though strict instructions have been passed that it will be cleaned regularly and action would be taken against the people caught dumping their garbage, nothing have been done to keep the canal clean, which irrigates thousands of kanals of land in Jammu. During past few years particularly in winter months, cleaning process is done by private contractors engaged by the department, but for last few years, it is being ignored. Quite unfortunate is that we could not take care of our water bodies and for the same reason we have not left with enough water. I think both the department and the public are responsible for the situation. Ashwani Sharma, Chief Engineer, Department of Irrigation and Flood Control, Jammu, said they were doing what is required to maintain cleanliness around the canal but public cooperation was a must. “They ignore the restrictions imposed by the us and dump garbage in the canal. Even during religious festivals, polythene bags are thrown in it, which choke the body”, said an environmentalist, Nadeem Qadri.