JNM Journalist Hardeep Jamwal, Jammu
Ahead of the monsoon’s arrival, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) is making grand claims regarding the cleaning of drains to protect the city from waterlogging and flood-like situations. The Corporation asserts that the cleaning of over 80 percent of the city’s major drains has been completed, and the remaining work will be finished by the end of June. However, the reality on the ground paints a starkly different picture than the Corporation’s claims.
In several residential and low-lying areas of the city, drains can still be seen choked with plastic, household waste, construction debris, and overgrown vegetation. In localities such as Nanak Nagar, Trikuta Nagar Extension, Ambedkar Nagar, Preet Nagar, Udham Singh Nagar, Digiana, and Babliana, heaps of garbage are visible at various spots within the drains, causing growing anxiety among local residents.
Local residents warn that if these drains are not thoroughly cleaned in a timely manner, the problem of waterlogging could escalate into a severe crisis during the monsoon season. Residents allege that while claims of large-scale pre-monsoon cleaning drives are made every year, the moment heavy rains strike, many areas become inundated, exposing the hollowness of the Corporation’s preparations.
The Municipal Corporation has deployed teams from its Health and Sanitation Wing across all wards of the city. According to officials, in areas inaccessible to machinery, cleaning operations are being carried out manually by dedicated “drain gangs.” Additionally, iron grilles have been installed along the edges of the drains to prevent people from dumping garbage and debris into them.
The JMC has also issued a stern warning of strict action against those found dumping waste into the drains. According to the Corporation, fines amounting to lakhs of rupees have been collected over the past few months from individuals and shopkeepers found violating these regulations. Special vigilance is also being maintained over those who dump construction debris near the drains. According to reports, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) oversees 140 stormwater drains and 105 deep drains. The maintenance of this drainage network—spanning approximately 850 kilometers—is jointly managed by the Jammu Municipal Corporation and the Urban Environmental Engineering Department.
During the monsoon season, the Nanak Nagar Nullah, Paloura Siphon, Shakti Nagar Nullah, Jewel Chowk–MA Stadium Nullah, Trikuta Nagar Extension Nullah, and the drains in the Talab Tillo and Sharika Vihar areas are considered the most vulnerable. These areas frequently experience waterlogging and flood-like situations.
Abdul Sattar, JMC’s Joint Commissioner for Health and Sanitation, states that the majority of the drain-cleaning work has been completed, and the remaining tasks will be finished before the onset of the monsoon. He has also appealed to the public not to throw garbage or debris into the drains and to cooperate with the administration in keeping the city clean.
However, the pertinent question remains: why are drains in several parts of the city still choked with garbage, even as the monsoon is just around the corner? If comprehensive cleaning is not carried out in a timely manner, many localities in Jammu could face waterlogging and significant difficulties during heavy rainfall.
