Post floods, Anantnag district administration still defunct

Post floods, Anantnag district administration still defunct  

Saahil Suhail

Anantnag, September 18, 2014

Post devastating floods in this Southern district, the district government machinery has evidently failed to resume functioning, resulting immense problems to flood affected population.

Anantnag flood affected residents told Early Times that after the passage of more than 10 days, the district administration hasn’t resumed fully its business with most of the employees and officers of the district are skipping duties.

They said that only few employees and offices are functioning in the DC Complex Anantnag. “Deputy Commissioner Anantnag with his few staff members are there in DC complex but excluding assurances he (DC) is doing nothing.” said Altaf Ahmad, a local resident, adding flood affected population suffers due to this administrative apathy.

“Omar Abdullah is claiming that government has started rehabilitation phase in Anantnag but on ground the officers have failed to show their presence in their offices.” He said.

Contrary to the claims of Chief Minister only class 4^th employees have turned to attend their duties while as the officers continue to take the strife ridden public at ride.

“Where people will go? He questioned.

An official said that only few departments like Transport and social welfare have partially resumed functioning but the important offices like Education, Revenue, Tax, Agriculture and Horticulture are still defunct.

He said that other departments whose offices are outside the district mini-secretariat like Forest and Social Forestry departments are too lying dysfunctional from past over 11 days.

Locals said that flood havoc which claimed fives lives and damaged property worth crores, Anantnag Municipal community hasn’t yet come out to carry out the sanitation drives as the poor and inadequate sanitation is increasing the chances of outbreak of epidemic diseases in the district mostly in the flood affected areas.

Large heaps of garbage and mud all along the road sides and in streets are giving difficult days to people as the Municipal committee hasn’t yet came out to clear the garbage. “Nothing is working, Municipal Community hasn’t cleared the garbage while as the carcasses are still lying in the streets.” Locals told Early Times, adding without a mask a person can’t walk.

Locals said that senior officials of district government machinery including district deputy commissioner Anantnag is not coming out of his office as they fear public anger.

“It is fact that many people of the district reportedly ringed DC Shab for help when their areas submerged but administration failed to provide them so they expressed their anger at several places.” Senior official whishing anonymity told Early Times.

He said that DC Anantnag was hackled at many places in the town when he visited the areas soon after flood recede. However he said that Relief Commissioner, Asgar Samoon from past several days is visiting the flood affected areas of the district.