Srinagar, Sep.8 (ANI): Residents of Srinagar have appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir Government to re-start a project for beautifying the area along the banks of the River Jhelum.
The proposed project includes construction of exquisite parapets, recreation resort spots and other facilities on both sides of the river.
Speaking to media here, Bashir Ahmad, a resident, expressed concern over the abrupt termination of the project, which could have helped to restore the pristine glory of Jhelum River.
"The beautification work (along the banks of the River Jhelum) began in the year 2005 but I have no idea why the state government stopped the work. But again, I would like to request the government to restart the work and take it forward, so that the beauty of the Kashmir valley is restored again," said Ahmad.
Historically, the river was the primary medium through which trade was conducted.
With the motive to beautify the riverbanks, parks and walkways, the state government launched a project worth Rupees 25 billion in the year 2005.
"The Jhelum is like a lifeline of Kashmir. If we see it historically, whatever the trade within the city and the wares used during the period of Maharaja (King) is still stored and the imported things were dumped in the godowns. But unfortunately, the government has no further interest in it. It is our hard luck and for the entire Kashmir too that government is not giving any attention. Here, illegal encroachments are taking place or one can term it as vote bank politics and the people who are encroaching these places are the vote banks of the government. This is why, they are not taking any action against them," said Inam, another local.
However, the Chief Engineer of Irrigation and Flood Control, Mohammad Rajab Shoal, said that that the project was delayed as the priority was accorded to re-habilitate the encroachers before the 'beautification' process along the river Jhelum was re-started. He informed that the second phase of the project has already commenced.
"Nearly 495 or one can say approximately 500 encroachers were present. They had their huts and other things at that place. So, initially we had to motivate them, then we had to make them move from that place and further we had to rehabilitate them. So, in the first phase, we removed those encroachers and rehabilitated them and now we have started working on the second phase," said Shoal.
Jhelum originates from Vernag in Pir Panjal range of the Kashmir valley. It flows through Kashmir region, meandering through a long stretch of Jammu before finally joining the Indus River.
The state's picturesque locales and landscapes attract tourists from across the world. (ANI)
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