GoI nod to DPR on Jhelum’s alternative flood channel

In a significant development, the Government of India has given its green signal to the Jammu and Kashmir government to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for construction of alternate flood spill channel to save Kashmir from floods in future.
Officials said the decision was taken by the Union Ministry of Water Resources in the wake of recent devastating floods which caused extensive damage to property in Jammu and Kashmir. Following the devastating floods, the Government of India and State Government had passed the buck on each other for delay in clearance of a flood management project for river Jhelum.
“The Ministry has finally given us a green signal to prepare the DRP for alternate channel of Jhelum from Dogripora to Wullar,” Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Javid Jaffar told Greater Kashmir.
Spanning over 175 sq.km from south to north Kashmir, Jhelum and its spill channels have lost the carrying capacity due to extensive siltation.
Jhelum has a capacity to carry 25000-30000 cusecs of waters while its flood channel discharge up to 8,000 cusecs. However, during the recent floods, over one lakh cusecs of flood water passed through Jhelum, submerging habitations on its both sides.
The water level in Jhelum, during the recent floods, broke all records crossing 33 feet at Sangam in Anantnag and 23-feet at Ram MunshiBagh in Srinagar. The silt-laden Jhelum waters for the first time also entered the Dal lake, severely affecting its flora and fauna.
The 80-km Dogripora channel is proposed to be constructed from Awantipora in south Kashmir to Wular lake in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district. “According to our preliminary survey, this channel can have capacity to discharge around 55,000 cusecs of waters during floods. After de-siltation, the main Jhelum river can cater to 45,000 cusecs and the spill channel upto 15,000 cusecs. The Dogripora-Wullar spill channel is vital as it can save Kashmir from floods in future,” Jaffar said.
Officials said the preliminary estimated cost of the Dogripora flood spill channel is Rs 18,000 crore. “The estimated cost is likely to be increased after we incorporate all aspects including land acquisition. We have sought Rs 20 crore from Ministry of Water Resources for preparation of the DPR,” he said.
Considered to be lifeline of Kashmir, Jhelum, originating from Verinag in south Kashmir settles in Wullar lake in north Kashmir before flowing to Pakistan administered Kashmir through Baramulla district. The river assumes tremendous importance for providing waters for drinking and irrigation purposes and draining the surplus waters to save Kashmir from floods.
A study titled ‘A satellite-based rapid assessment on floods in Jammu & Kashmir–September, 2014’ conducted jointly by the Department of Environment & Remote Sensing (DERS) and ISRO revealed that recent floods inundated 557 sq km of Kashmir Valley and affected 22 lakh people. The study had warned that intensity of rainfall and frequency of rainy days in the Himalayan region may increase in 2030s, leading to another flood in Kashmir if immediate steps are not taken to restore the drainage system of Jhelum.
The study also recommended an alternate flood spill channel for Jhelum should be constructed.
“The DPR will also study impediments of Dogripora channel on hydrology of Wullar lake and importantly the Indus Water Treaty,” the Chief Engineer said.
The Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan was signed in Karachi on September 19, 1960. This treaty divides the use of rivers and canals between the two countries. Pakistan obtained exclusive rights for the three western rivers, namely Indus, Jhelum and Chenab while India retained rights to the three eastern rivers, namely Ravi, Beas and Sutluj.
“We will incorporate previous studies on Jhelum besides technical and environmental aspects of construction of Dogripora channel. For this we will utilise services of subject experts to make the DPR comprehensive. It will take nearly a year to complete the DPR,” the Chief Engineer said.