Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Apr 23: With people of rural areas migrate to Jammu and Srinagar districts; the government is working on a proposal to ensure no constructions in areas of twin capitals, prone to disasters.
There has been immense pressure of population on twin capitals. According to official details, Jammu city has a poor drainage and sanitation system in place as a result the untreated water flows into water bodies and pollutes the environment.
Sources said that government is working on the proposal that will ensure that no construction in areas, that are prone to disasters.
Jammu Kashmir is vulnerable to disasters. At least 13 districts out of 100 districts in India have been identified as 'multi hazard districts'.
"Majority areas of the Valley, especially Sonawari, Awantipora and Srinagar are prone to floods," a government report says.
All these areas were worst hit by the 2014 floods. According to the Indian Meteorological department, most parts of Kashmir including Srinagar come under the Seismic Zone V, which are prone to earthquakes. The same is case with Jammu, where several areas are prone to disasters.
An official said that there are many buildings in the district, which have been constructed without adhering to the norms pertaining to the earthquake resistant construction.
"Such buildings are not safe enough to resist the impact of a severe earth quake. If earthquake resistant technology is used in construction of buildings, such structures can withstand earthquakes up to a certain magnitude," the official said.
An official document of the district development commissioner office Srinagar says that areas, which are 'disaster prone and vulnerable' in Srinagar district would be identified so that "residential colonies are raised at safe locations and people living in risk prone areas are rehabilitated elsewhere".
"Geology and Mining department shall be involved in identification of vulnerable areas. The concerned department would be asked to prepare a geological map, which would delineate areas in district Srinagar that can be exposed to the impact of strong earthquakes and other natural disasters," the document reads.
"Once Geology Department maps these areas, no construction activity would be allowed in these danger zones," the document reads.
It says that there has to be a regulatory frame-work in place, which would discourage construction activity in areas vulnerable to disasters.
The state cabinet approved the Disaster Management Plan in July 2015, when Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had been chief minister of J&K.
It was prepared by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Mumbai. The government had said that it was an effort to reduce the vulnerability to hazards and cope with disasters and natural calamities in a more effective manner. The government had also said the plan was long overdue as there were lessons to be learnt from the devastating floods of 2014 in terms of real-time rescue missions for timely evacuation of people. |
