JAMMU: In the wake of hardships caused by recent floods, Dr. Devansh Yadav, Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), on Tuesday conducted an extensive tour of Ward No. 56, Gangyal–Babliana and surrounding areas.
The visit aimed to assess the condition of the major nallah in the locality, identified as one of the key causes of recurring water-logging.
Dr. Yadav inspected the drain alignment, interacted with officials, and listened to grievances of residents, who reported that every monsoon season, the drain overflows, flooding over 200 houses. They attributed the problem to the low height of the drain walls and unauthorized encroachments, which lead to several feet of water entering residential areas, forcing evacuations and severely disrupting daily life.
Acknowledging their concerns, the Commissioner assured that JMC is committed to finding a permanent solution. He instructed engineering staff to expedite demarcation of the drain so that widening and strengthening work can start at the earliest. Stressing the urgency, he said this will prevent further distress during future rainy seasons.
Appealing for residents’ cooperation, Dr. Yadav urged them to voluntarily remove encroachments, reminding that such structures block cleaning operations and worsen flooding. He noted that drainage issues cannot be resolved by the Corporation alone and require community participation.
Additionally, Dr. Yadav directed the Health and Sanitation wings to intensify cleanliness and anti-water logging measures in the affected localities. He emphasized that proper drainage solutions will improve the quality of life in Gangyal–Babliana and adjoining areas, while reaffirming JMC’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure development.
Dr. Yadav was accompanied by former Deputy Mayor Baldev Singh Billawaria, who pledged full support to residents. Senior officials, including Joint Commissioner (Works) Firdous Ahmed Qazi, Health Officer Dr. Vinod Sharma, Executive Engineer (UEED) Ashwani Khajuria, Executive Engineer Division 5 Yasir Bashir Kichloo, and Chief Transport Officer Dharamveer Singh, were also present.
