Abhay Bakaya, District President Jammu Urban, Apni Party, visited Asarabad CRPF Mohalla in Ward No. 71, Sidhra, to assess the damage caused to residential houses due to recent rainfall and listen to the grievances of the affected residents he was accompanied by both incharge Kamlesh Devi , and Zareena behgam.During his visit, the residents apprised Bakaya of the serious problems being faced by the locality, alleging that the recently constructed pully had been poorly planned and inadequately designed. According to the residents, the structure, which was expected to facilitate the smooth passage of rainwater, has instead diverted the flow towards the residential area, significantly increasing the risk of flooding and causing damage to houses.
Expressing concern over the situation, Bakaya said that such infrastructure projects are meant to provide relief and protection to the public, not create additional hardships for residents. He stressed that the issue required immediate attention, as the safety of families and their homes could not be compromised due to faulty planning or improper execution of public works.
Bakaya appealed to the district administration and the concerned departments to conduct an urgent technical inspection of the pully, examine the natural drainage pattern, and take corrective measures to ensure that rainwater flows through its intended course rather than entering the residential locality. He also called for appropriate measures to prevent further damage and safeguard the lives and property of the people.
Raising a broader civic concern, Bakaya also expressed serious dissatisfaction over the recurring problem of waterlogging across Jammu city during rainfall. He observed that even a single spell of rain leaves several roads inundated, causing inconvenience to commuters, disrupting normal life, damaging roads and creating difficulties for residents.He questioned the effectiveness of the much-publicised Smart City initiative, stating that the persistent problem of waterlogging reflects the need for substantial improvement in urban drainage planning, infrastructure maintenance and interdepartmental coordination.
“It is unfortunate that even after repeated claims of development and Smart City transformation, people across Jammu continue to face waterlogged roads whenever it rains. Development must be visible on the ground and should provide relief to the common people. The administration must identify the root causes of waterlogging and take permanent corrective measures instead of relying on temporary arrangements.” Bakaya said.He further emphasised that the concerned departments must work in coordination to improve drainage systems, ensure proper maintenance of existing infrastructure and hold the responsible agencies accountable wherever deficiencies are established.
Bakaya urged the administration to treat the grievances of the residents of Asarabad CRPF Mohalla, Ward 71, as a matter of urgency and initiate immediate corrective action. He reiterated that public safety, protection of residential properties and the provision of basic civic amenities must remain the foremost priorities of the administration.He assured the residents that Apni Party would continue to raise their genuine concerns with the appropriate authorities until effective steps are taken to address the problems faced by the people.