Karnal :
A sense of fear prevails among residents of more than 30 villages located along the Yamuna in the district as work on flood prevention measures is still incomplete even 15 days after the deadline.

However, the authorities claim that the work is in the final stages. The Tribune team found that JCB machines and labourers were still working of new studs. Stones were also being dumped at various places and old studs were not repaired.

Residents of various villages said the flood prevention measures should have been started four months back.

Sources in the administration said the meeting of the flood control measures was held in March and tenders were floated in April and the work of making stone studs was started in Kundakalan and Jammukhala villages at the cost of Rs70 lakh and Rs250 lakh, respectively in May, while the deadline was June 30.

The sources said if the meeting would have been held in January or February, then there would have no delay in making arrangements.

The residents alleged that the department had learnt no lessons from the past.
Suresh Kumar, a resident of Mustafabad village, alleged that their village was prone to flood, but no flood prevention measures had been initiated in the village so far.
Raj Kumar and Bunty, residents of Mustfabad village, said even the old studs along the Yamuna in their village were not repaired.

Ramesh Kumar, a resident of Jammukhala village, alleged that the Irrigation Department had started the work late.

On May 31, Deputy Commissioner Aditya Dahiya toured the flood-prone areas and reprimanded the officials concerned for slow pace of work.

Dahiya said that the officials concerned had been directed to speed up the work.
Rajesh Tonk, SE, Irrigation, said that the work was in its final stages.