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| 2014 floods: HC asks CS to file reply or appear personally | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Apr 6: The State High Court today directed Chief Secretary to file compliance report on behalf of all the authorities with regard to a Public Interest Litigation seeking constitution of a Special Investigation Team to probe the alleged criminal negligence by officers in the last year's floods that ravaged the state.
"It is made clear that earlier one last opportunity of four weeks was granted for filing the reply affidavit. In case reply affidavit is not filed before next date, Chief Secretary shall appear in person before the court," a Division Bench of the court comprising Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey said hearing the PIL filed by a lawyer Advocate Azhar-ul-Amin.
In another direction, the division bench also directed authorities including SMC, LAWDA and Chief engineer mechanical to take immediate steps for dewatering the areas of Srinagar and report compliance by next date of hearing on April 13.
The PIL, filed by advocate Azhar-ul-Amin, alleged that the measures required to be followed in accordance with flood manual were not taken and the acts of "omission and commission" of the state government ranging from criminal negligence to direct acts of interference with flood protection measures, structural and non-structural has caused inundation of most parts of the capital city of Srinagar
"None of the measures required to be taken according to Flood Manuals were actually followed before and during the floods," the petitioner said.
"Though the state claimed to be in readiness for floods but actually and factually it was false," the petitioner further said.
"There were no sand bags or appropriate officials to plug smaller breaches those took horrendous proportions for lack of proper management. State machinery was totally absent on the fateful day."
He said that run off was mismanaged and the use of flood basin and traditional reservoir was delayed for "vote bank politics."
"State is under obligation to explain as to why run off was not managed and proper measures not taken appropriately."
Over a period, there was direct interference with embankment of river Jhelum in Srinagar which has serpentine course.
"Instead of strengthening, widening and reinforcing the embankments, it was fiddled with,' he said, seeking appropriate punishment to the Chief Engineers as well as deputy Commissioner who according to him are personally involved for acts of "omission and commission."
He cited instances including drastic reduction of embankment at Sempora, Pathchowk last year.
"Road widening was undertaken minimizing the width of embankment and increasing its vulnerability for breach. Flood control ironically constructed their office and store on the embankment itself and on wrong side of it," the petitioner said. He has accused government of ignoring the flood forecasting warning, maintaining that it was an Important measure for minimizing loss of life and property. |
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