NAVVNEET DUBEY
Jammu: To protect Jammu city from severe waterlogging and flood-like situations during the upcoming monsoon, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has initiated large-scale preparations. As soon as the recent rainy spell subsided, the Corporation launched a comprehensive drive across various city wards to renovate drains, reinforce embankments and construct protective walls.
JMC has officially launched a major infrastructural initiative worth Rs 121 crore aimed at revamping, widening and strengthening 32 major drains (nallahs) across Jammu city. The initiative is being executed under Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme.
The project aims to prevent waterlogging on roads and in residential areas, which had caused major inconvenience to residents during previous monsoons. Officials said desilting of clogged drains, repair of damaged sections and raising of embankment walls are being taken up on priority. Vulnerable points that witnessed overflow last season have been identified for immediate intervention.
The initiative is expected to significantly improve drainage capacity and ensure smooth flow of rainwater, thereby reducing the risk of urban flooding in low-lying areas. JMC has directed executing agencies to complete the works in a time-bound manner before the onset of monsoon, while ensuring quality and proper monitoring of the project.
Every year during the monsoon, drains overflow at various locations. Water enters people’s homes, causing losses amounting to lakhs of rupees. These drains wreak havoc primarily in low-lying areas. It is hoped that all these drains will be completed before the next monsoon, preventing future waterlogging.
Under the municipal corporation’s plan, work is underway to deepen and widen drains to increase their capacity. In several vulnerable areas, sturdy retaining walls and crates are being installed on both sides of the drains to prevent soil erosion caused by rapid water flow.
Officials claim that once these infrastructure improvements are completed, the city’s drainage system will be completely transformed, providing residents with permanent relief from the long-standing problem of waterlogging.
Work on upgrading and renovating the drain in the SC colony of Jallo Chak, located in Ward No. 68, is proceeding rapidly. In the same ward, the process of constructing safety walls and installing crates on both sides of the drain—stretching from the police post to the area near Royal Park Resort—is currently underway.
Meanwhile, drain repairs and the construction of retaining walls are underway in the Bathindi area—specifically in Asrarabad and along Lanes 7 and 8 near the Fatima Masjid Tuljohra. Additionally, the renovation of drains is being carried out on a war footing at several locations: near the SDM office and the gaushala (cow shelter) in Gadigarh; in Rupnagar and Top Sherkhania; and near the PWD office at Ban Talab. Work has also commenced in Nanak Nagar and Krishna Nagar.
According to a senior JMC official the central goal of this comprehensive overhaul is to reinforce Jammu’s entire urban drainage network. This is designed to provide residents with long-term relief from chronic seasonal waterlogging and severe flash floods during the monsoons.
The corporation has prioritized accelerating these infrastructural works to ensure the entire network is fully upgraded and functional before the next monsoon season hits. This campaign aligns with other recent JMC sustainability drives, such as installing protective wire mesh over open major drains to prevent public garbage dumping and preserve optimal water flow.
