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| Need for short & long term flood control plan | | | Less than seven months after the devastating floods the valley of Kashmir is in for another deluge following incessant rain that led to a major spate in river Jehlum. Over 15 people were feared killed after two houses collapsed in Budgam district.
As authorities declared a flood situation in the Valley, Prime Minister Narendra Modi rushed Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi to Kashmir for an on-the-spot assessment of the damage and assured the state of all assistance.Civil administration and police have asked people living along the banks of River Jhelum to move to safer places and launched rescue and relief operation at several places, including Laden village in Chadoora area of central Kashmir's Budgam district where two houses collapsed due to caving in of earth.Heavy rain over the past 36 hours has resulted in river Jhelum flowing above the flood-alert mark at several places, including Sangam in Anantnag district and Ram Munshi Bagh in the city.
Well timely alert has been sounded with rescue teams from the Army, police, and NDRF have been pressed into service.Though the civil and the police administration were seen on their toes this time which was in contrast to the situation in September last when most of the ministers and senior civil administration and police officers remained in hibernation when the flood waters caused major devastation and death.This time Army boats have been rushed to Srinagar and the Chief Minister alongwith his cabinet colleagues have been visiting various affected areas for galvanizing relief and rescue operations.
It is no less than a major tragedy that has been and is being witnessed by several lakh people in parts of the Kashmir valley.It is all owing to lack of proper flood control policy and lack of implementation of whatever policy is there.These hapless people have witnessed death and devastation in Sept ember and were on the verge of experiencing the same this time also though the intensity of devastation could be lesser than the one experienced in September last.The reason being quick rescue measures being initiated by the Government.
The state Government in September last had to request the central Government to send Army boats and other gadgets and equipments which was to be used in rescue operations.This time the state Government seems to have lost no time in making all these arrangements.Well despite these measures it may not be possible for the Government to check losses to public and private property.Yes,the only way to reduce the disaster of flood fury is in the hands of Goid and nature.If there is respite in rain one can heave a sigh of relief as improvement in weather can result in drop in the water level of the river Jhelum and the lakes.
Well there is need for the state and the central Governments to sit together and prepare a new flood control plan.The new flood control plan should envisage short term and long term measures.Among the short term measures the embankments of river Jhelum have to be strengthened and their height to be raised to prevent flood water from causing any major breaches.
In September floods the bigger devastation was caused by the breaches in the river banks that resul- ted in heavy losses to public and private property in various residential localities including the historic Lal Chowk and Residency road areas.Secondly, dredging of river Jhelum from Khannabal to Khadanyar has to be made a regular feature as the capacity of river Jhelum has been eroded with rapid siltation and pollution.
Thirdly,all the encroachment on the river banks have to be removed.As far as the long term measures are concerned it should include cons ruction of a river which serves as alternate to river Jhelum and this river should be dug from Khannabal to Khadanyar. Once the project was completed this alternate river would also carry part of the flood water. Secondly the flood channel project has to be revived and be used during floods.
That can be done once the flood channel was also subjected to sustained dredging.The state Government should allocate sufficient funds for flood control measures and see to it that those funds were utilized properly.If the long and short term measures were not implemented Kashmir would be witnessing regular flood related death and devastation. |
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