Srinagar flooding punctures Modi regime’s development narrative in IIOJK
Srinagar: Heavy rainfall once again exposed the hollow claims of development under the BJP-led Indian government’s so-called Smart City Mission, as large parts of Srinagar remained submerged, disrupting normal life and highlighting the poor state of urban infrastructure in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
According to Kashmir Media Service, hours of intense rain on Monday inundated several areas, including Khanyar, Sada Kadal, Nalamar, Rajbagh, Dalgate, Bohri Kadal, Jawahar Nagar, Bemina and Residency Road. Waterlogged roads left commuters stranded for hours, disrupted traffic and triggered protests by residents demanding a permanent solution to the recurring problem.
The incident has renewed questions over the effectiveness of the Smart City Mission, under which Srinagar has reportedly witnessed extensive road redevelopment and beautification works since 2018, particularly ahead of the G20 meetings in 2023. Despite crores of rupees spent on urban development and additional stormwater drainage projects under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme, Srinagar residents continue to face severe flooding after every spell of heavy rain.
Residents criticized the occupation authorities for prioritizing cosmetic projects over essential civic infrastructure. “Every spell of heavy rain leaves these roads submerged. People want roads that do not flood every time it rains,” said a resident of Khanyar, while another commuter from Rajbagh said the repeated flooding had exposed the failure of the much-publicized development projects.
The latest flooding has once again laid bare New Delhi’s repeated claims of transforming IIOJK through massive infrastructure spending, with residents saying basic civic services continue to remain neglected despite years of official promises.
