First monsoon rain ruins MA Stadium

Vikas Sharma

Tribune News Service

JAMMU, June 30

A brief spell of heavy showers on Monday afternoon were enough to create havoc at MA Stadium here as the stadium authorities struggled with waterlogging at the main entrance adjacent to GGM Science College.

The J&K State Sports Council has put the entire blame on the incomplete sewerage of the National Buildings Construction Company (NBCC) for the chaos-like situation. The work is going on war-footing as JCBs have been pressed into service to clean the garbage, solid waste from the site which were flown with the water.

Sportspersons who came to the main stadium for practice in different disciplines were directed to stay home until the cleanliness drive was completed.

Divisional Sports Officer, State Sports Council, Rajan Sharma told The Tribune “The department has taken serious note of this development and we are going to write a letter to the NBCC authorities shortly to complete the remaining work.”

“The Sports Council approached Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and sought help to clean the stadium premises. Besides JCBs, more than 40 persons are engaged in the drive so that the process would be completed soon and sportspersons would resume their practice,” he added.

Sources said after rain, most of the employees of MA Stadium were stuck inside it due to heavy waterlogging. “We were totally in a fix yesterday as heavy rain continued for hours. Our family members were worried about our well-being after we got late because it was impossible to go out because of heavy waterlogging at the main entrance of the stadium. We had to wait for three hours to leave for home,” said an employee of the autonomous sports body.

Meanwhile, the players are disappointed with the closure of stadium premises for few days. “Whenever there is a celebration of a government function, stadium premises is closed, even political rallies too are conducted here. This recent development has exposed the weak management of our sports authorities,” an athlete said.

“Many national competitions in different disciplines are just a few days away and we are already running out of time to prepare. The closure of stadium for few days would have definitely compounded our miseries,” he maintained.

Polythene bags block outflow of rainwater 

A day after heavy rain lashed Jammu, polythene bags thrown with impunity have choked drains across the city. The nullahs are filled with polythene bags and solid waste, which block the flow of water and choke gutters. The Municipal Corporation is making efforts to clear the drains as foul smell emanating from the choked sewerage was causing problems for the people. Residents said the rainwater had choked the entire drainage, mainly in the low-lying areas. Though the trouble is an annual affair, the authorities concerned seem to have taken no lesson from the past. The downpour has thrown normal life out of gear in the outskirts of the city. There is an urgent need for an integrated sewerage as waterlogging has become a common feature even in the newly constructed colonies. “Monsoon rain has exposed the tall claims made by the civic departments concerned and the district administration about sanitation and cleanliness,” said Gian Singh, a senior citizen and leader of the Awami National Conference. Whenever heavy rain lashes city, knee-deep water gathers in most of the areas which makes it difficult for two wheelers to ride motor bikes smoothly,” said Kapil Bhat, a government employee.