Big responsibility on JMC’s shoulders

As reports have confirmed that the monsoon has hit Kerala and is advancing towards North India, it becomes imperative for Jammu’s civic body, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), to start the preparations for countering the challenges which this annual rainy season brings along.

It is good that the JMC has already started de-silting and all other necessary activities like repairs to big deep drains (Nallahs) in the city and periphery areas. What is necessary is that the works undertaken by the JMC should not be merely nominal, as in many cases in the past where these preparations provided no tangible benefits to the public, as even the pre-monsoon showers used to expose the poor preparations. The case of an area near Dr Goyal’s Lane last monsoon was horrifying because many houses were fully submerged and people’s property worth crores of rupees was devastated.

The places which require special attention include the Jewel area, Stadium Nallah, Dr Goyal’s Lane of Krishna Nagar, Kabir Colony, various spots in Nanak Nagar, Sanjay Nagar, and Last Morh Gandhi Nagar, Sector 5 Trikuta Nagar Nallah, Jeevan Nagar, etc. As the monsoon season has been knocking at the doors, the big question which is in the minds of Jammuites these days is whether the JMC is ready to face the challenges associated with this annual rainy season probably hitting the region within the next 25 to 30 days?

The past experiences of Jammuites have remained quite unpleasant as they have witnessed severe waterlogging and overflowing drains, with many houses being submerged in floodwaters, exposing the city’s inadequate drainage infrastructure. With the onset of rains being imminent, it has become necessary for the JMC to get ready and ensure preparedness through proactive measures, especially to tackle emergent situations in case of heavy and unprecedented downpours, which have become a common scenario during the rainy season. Already, cases of cloudbursts have come to the fore from Kishtwar, Doda and Reasi’s Mahore in recent days, thus making it necessary for JMC teams to be on their toes to avoid damage and destruction in the coming rainy season. The concerned authorities should envisage the plan in a way to prevent a repeat of previous years’ chaos, which had led to difficult situations for people living near the big Nallahs and small drains.

All said and done, it is the right time for the JMC to launch pre-monsoon cleanliness. On the other hand, the people of the Temple City should also cooperate and ensure that no one contributes to wrongful littering, which might choke the drains unnecessarily and cause problems at a later stage. This is necessary for keeping Jammu safe and beautiful during the monsoon season, allowing people to enjoy the rains without the fear of being troubled due to flooding.