Cr rupee mistake: Floriculture blames ‘natural calamity’

PS BALI 

Jammu Tawi, January 5

In the days after slight rain washed away the embankment of the canal at Gangyal, the ill-planning of the Floriculture department not only eroded embankment, but also washed away crore of rupees used for construction of a park alongside the canal.

Blaming the floriculture department, an engineer of Irrigation department, said that no one at the helm of affair in Floriculture department approached Irrigation department for this project.

“The technical wing of the floriculture department initiated work on its own, without consultation of Irrigation department, which resulted in a disaster,” he said, adding that the department dug the sides of the canal which ultimately led to breach.

Interestingly signpost hanging on the wall of Director’s cabin contradicts its working which goes, “Strength in the forearm is of no use, if there is no strength in forehead”

Whereon, one side the residents are craving for legitimate compensation from the authorities, on the same side the department is anticipating ‘more aid from the government to resume this project’.

Group of aggrieved residents claimed that due to entering of water into their houses they incurred a huge loss. They alleged that “the department and contractor continued their digging even during the rains”, which weakened the embankment of the canal.

“We sought compensation from concerned department for the loss of our property, as if they initiated work, they must be versed with the pros and cons of the project,” lamented Rakesh, a resident and vice president of Youth NC Jammu province.

The residents also expressed anguish saying that after the episode, “no Floriculture employee visited here to take stock of the situation, we had a narrow escape as all our houses were inundated in the water,” said he, adding that what would be the consequences if this breach happened at night time.

Earlier, inaugurated on December 26 by the Minister of state for Revenue and Relief, Raman Bhalla the project was in its infancy and by the alleged negligence of the department on December 31, it eroded the embankment of the canal.

Denying the allegations, director, Floriculture department, KK Sharma said that it was due to natural calamity and as far as sliding of the embankment is concerned “it starts from the other end of the canal” which has no link with tilled area.

“We excavated only two feet after leaving distance of six feet between canal and the digging area,” said Sharma, adding that the sliding of the embankment starts from another corner and it was due to natural calamity.

Admitting that they did not consult Irrigation department, he said that “due to time constraint and pressure, we started work without consulting any department.”

On whether, resumption of project, Director said that they will start project again “after proper consultation of the Irrigation department” and expected aid from government.