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| Successive regimes left half of Jammu's population to fend for itself | | Jammu region sans disaster preparedness despite warnings from experts | | Abdul Majid
Early Times Report
Srinagar, May 23: Despite repeated warnings from experts that Chenab valley and Pirpanchal range are highly vulnerable to earthquakes, the successive regimes in the state have failed to improve disaster preparedness.
While the state on the whole lags behind in requisite disaster management standards, these twin areas look most neglected, though they fall in the highly volatile Seismic Zone-4.
The entire Jammu region has just one airport, something which is in stark contrast to Kashmir Valley, which is equipped with four such facilities: two airports and two airstrips.
Pirpanjal range and Chenab valley constitute a major chunk of around 26000 square kilometers area comprising the Jammu province. "Tackling Chenab valley or Pirpanchal in case of natural disaster, for relief and rehabilitation, is feared to be disaster in itself," said an official in Civil Secretariat who is well-versed with disaster management.
He said following recent devastation in Nepal, alarm bells are again ringing in this part of the Himalayas. The argument is backed by fears raised by an earth scientist from Jammu University. "The Chenab valley falls in Seismic Zone-IV and is prone to earthquakes. The area has been made more vulnerable by activities which have exerted further pressure on earth. It may lead to massive destruction in case a tremor measuring 7 on the Richter Scale hits the area," earth scientist Prof GM Bhat, who is also Rector of Bhaderwah Campus of Jammu University, recently said.
Bhat said it was high time for the government to increase its disaster management capabilities. "Jammu and Kashmir has not learned any lesson from the September 2014 floods and the streak of earthquakes in Chenab valley a year before… Instead of going for post-disaster measures, the government should strengthen the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and use this breathing time to get prepared," he said. Similar apprehensions hold true for Pirpanjal region.
Though over the years successive regimes had claimed that efforts were on to explore possibility for construction of airports in these areas, there has been no breakthrough.
Last month officials said the Airports Authority of India (AAI) was working on a plan to set up three small airports in Chenab Valley and Pirpanjal range. Sources said the places identified for developing the airports are Rajouri and Surankote in Pirpanjal range and Kishtwar in Chenab valley.
The issue was taken up by the state government with the Union Cabinet Secretary AK Seth during his visit to the state. Seth is understood to have assured the state of taking up the matter with the AAI.
"Though the team which was on a three-day visit, surveyed the areas, realizing the dream needs a sustained campaign from the state government to strongly plead the case before the central government," officials said.
Observers said to make a step forward Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh should pick up the issue with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar who is presently on a 2-day visit to the state. |
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