JAMMU, Jul 9: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Sarpanch Adv. Devraj Sharma on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the National Conference (NC)-led government in Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that the widespread flooding and severe waterlogging witnessed across Jammu city following overnight rains were the result of administrative failure rather than a natural calamity.
Expressing concern over the hardships faced by thousands of residents, Sharma said that the heavy rainfall merely exposed the government’s lack of preparedness and the failure of the concerned departments to undertake essential pre-monsoon measures well in time.
“The suffering of the people cannot be attributed solely to heavy rainfall. It is a direct consequence of poor planning, administrative negligence, and the failure to complete pre-monsoon desilting, drainage maintenance and flood mitigation works,” he said.
Sharma pointed out that several residential colonies, major roads, marketplaces and low-lying areas remained inundated for hours, disrupting normal life, damaging household belongings, affecting businesses and causing immense inconvenience to commuters, students and emergency services.
He said that every year, the administration claims to have completed pre-monsoon preparedness, including cleaning of drains, desilting of nallahs and inspection of pumping stations. However, the recurring scenes of flooded roads and overflowing drains after moderate rainfall expose what he termed a “serious gap between official claims and ground realities.”
“The people of Jammu deserve accountable governance, not routine assurances that disappear with the first spell of rain. If timely preventive measures had been implemented, the scale of waterlogging and public inconvenience could have been substantially reduced,” Sharma asserted.
The senior BJP leader said the situation has once again highlighted the urgent need for scientific urban planning, efficient storm-water drainage systems and regular maintenance of civic infrastructure. He observed that rapid urban expansion without corresponding improvements in drainage infrastructure has made many localities increasingly vulnerable to flooding during the monsoon season.
Calling for immediate corrective measures, Sharma urged the Jammu Municipal Corporation, the Public Works Department, the Jal Shakti Department and all other concerned agencies to launch a comprehensive review of the city’s drainage network and ensure the removal of bottlenecks on a priority basis. He stressed that permanent solutions, rather than temporary measures, are essential to prevent the recurrence of such situations.
He also appealed to the administration to undertake a ward-wise assessment of waterlogged areas, identify chronic flooding points and formulate a long-term flood management strategy backed by adequate financial and technical resources.
Sharma said special attention should be given to vulnerable localities where repeated waterlogging poses risks to public health, property and essential services. He emphasized that the administration must remain fully prepared during the ongoing monsoon season by deploying emergency response teams, ensuring the operational readiness of pumping stations and maintaining uninterrupted communication with disaster management agencies.
The former Sarpanch further urged the government to provide immediate relief and assistance to families whose homes, shops and livelihoods have been affected by flooding and to expedite restoration of damaged civic infrastructure wherever required.
“The people expect proactive governance that anticipates challenges instead of reacting after damage has already occurred. Monsoon preparedness cannot remain confined to official files and review meetings. It must be visible on the ground through efficient drainage systems, clean water channels and responsive civic administration,” Sharma said.
Reiterating the BJP’s commitment to raising issues affecting the common people, Sharma assured residents that the party would continue to highlight public concerns and press for greater accountability and improved civic governance to ensure that Jammu is better equipped to face future monsoon challenges.