Amir Tantray
Doda, May 1: The National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) is dumping debris into river Chenab opposite Ghat village in Doda district which is posing threat to the existence of the village and other nearby areas.
The NHIDCL is doing it illegally and against the norms laid down by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) of dumping any kind of material inside the water bodies.
Ghat village is home to more than 250 households and Government Medical College (GMC) Doda, and any incident will have a long lasting impact on thousands of people in general and people of Ghat in particular.
The NHIDCL has to dump the debris in already allotted dumping yards but since the start of the work thousands of metric tons of debris has been dumped inside the river which is visible from everywhere. For the last few days, more debris is being thrown inside the river and nobody is stopping them.
“Many at times district administration as well as NHIDCL authorities was apprised about the dumping of debris into the river which has increased the threat to Ghat village and water flow can damage the banks of the river and a grave situation could emerge,” alleged Shahnawaz Ahmed, a resident of Ghat.
“For the last few days, NHIDCL is clearing debris accumulated due to a landslide in Garsu village and that is also being thrown inside the river,” he added.
The widening work on Batote-Kishtwar national highway was started in the year 2021 and the work is in the last phase.
The dumping of debris inside the water bodies is against the norms of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) but NHIDCL hasn’t taken any care of these norms. The dumping of debris is still going on and nobody is stopping them.
The widening of the road has put a threat to the existence of people living in Garsu village and they are planning to move to some safer place.
“Since the work was started in 2021, the damage occurred to our hamlet consisting of around 12 houses. Firstly, authorities didn’t initiate any immediate action to save the area when the loose soil started sinking but thereafter some protection walls were constructed but those couldn’t stop the sinking of the land,” said Farid Ahmed, a resident of Garsu village.
“Now, the administration has assured to provide compensation to the damaged structures but the deputy commissioner Doda has told us to wait till the Parliamentary elections are over,” he added.
An official of NHIDCL in Doda said that he will look into the matter. (KNO)
