Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. JAMMU: Expressing grave concern over the rapidly deteriorating condition of residential buildings at the Jagati Migrant Township in Nagrota and other migrant camps, senior leader and former Member of the Legislative Council (MLC), Girdhari Lal Raina, has demanded immediate and comprehensive intervention by the Omar Abdullah Government.
Raina said that thousands of displaced Kashmiri Pandit families are living in buildings that have become structurally unsafe due to extensive wall cracks, leaking roofs and years of neglect. The ongoing monsoon has further aggravated the situation, with rainwater inundating residential quarters, damaging household belongings, food stocks and electrical appliances while creating damp conditions that pose serious health risks, particularly to children and senior citizens.
Referring to the recent collapse of a concrete ceiling, Raina said it was only by providence that no lives were lost. He cautioned that several other residential blocks are displaying similar signs of structural distress and warned that continued official inaction could result in a major tragedy.
Demanding urgent action, the former legislator called upon the Omar Abdullah Government to: Conduct an immediate structural safety audit of all residential blocks at Jagati Township and other migrant camps through an independent team of qualified structural engineers. Undertake permanent waterproofing, concrete restoration and structural strengthening instead of recurring temporary patchwork repairs.
Order a high-level inquiry into previous repair works, fix responsibility for the use of substandard materials and black-list contractors found guilty of poor workmanship or corruption. Provide immediate compensation and assistance to families whose household goods, rations and electrical appliances have been damaged due to water seepage and structural failures.
"The Relief and Rehabilitation Department cannot remain a mute spectator while the lives of thousands of displaced citizens remain at risk. Cosmetic repairs have repeatedly failed because of poor quality work and lack of accountability. What is required is a comprehensive structural rehabilitation programme backed by strict action against those responsible for this deplorable condition," Raina said.
He urged the administration to treat the issue as a matter of public safety and humanitarian concern and ensure that all vulnerable structures are repaired on a war footing before another avoidable tragedy occurs.