‘Govt yet to learn lessons from devastating floods’

Jhelum embankments in Srinagar vulnerable to breaches: Experts

Despite passing of more than seven months since the devastating floods hit Srinagar, the government is sitting on strengthening of damaged embankments of river Jhelum, thus endangering lives and property of people living in its catchment areas.

On September 7 last year, overflowing Jhelum breached embankments at several places submerging many areas of the city including LalChowk, Panthachowk, Shivpora, Jawahar Nagar and Rajbagh.

Though the Irrigation and Flood Control department claims to have repaired the damaged embankments, experts maintain these “weak spots” in several areas are vulnerable to breaches if water level increases to danger level in Jhelum.

During the past one month, there has been abrupt increase in water level in Jhelum above alarm level in Srinagar.

“Due to extensive siltation during floods, Jhelum has lost its carrying capacity. With increase in temperature, snow melts are going to contribute in significant flow in the river. Besides, the river levels are bound to be high as rainy spell of few days can continue to cause flashfloods and raise river to dangerous levels particularly in Srinagar,” said Ajaz Rasool, environmentalist and hydraulic engineer.

Elaborating, he said, the reinforcement of embankments particularly in Shivpora, KursuRajbagh and PanthaChowk, should be done on priority to save Srinagar from another flood.

“Authorities are yet to learn lessons from devastating floods last year. The temporary restoration of affected embankments should now be strengthened on priority by permanent restoration measures like gabion walls to safeguard any eventuality of such spots giving way at high river levels,” he said.

Jhelum which passes through Srinagar has a capacity of 35,000 cusecs and the flood spill channel of the river has a capacity of between 12,000 and 15,000 cusecs.

On September 7 last year, nearly one lakh cusecs of water entered Srinagar city.

Jhelum had crossed record 23-feet at Ram MunshiBagh gauge here submerging localities on both sides of the river including city’s commercial hub LalChowk and its adjoining areas.

Prof Shakil A Romshoo, Head of Earth Sciences department at Kashmir University in his study ‘2014 Extreme Floods in Kashmir: Genesis, Magnitude and Correctives’, has maintained that embankments in Srinagar are vulnerable to breaches.

“Due to floods, the fragile river embankments have been rendered weak at several places. Floodwaters leaked through permeable spots aiding the breach and crumbling of these embankments as observed at 22 places from Pampore town to Chattabal in the summer capital,” Romshoo said.
In absence of any monitoring, vandalisation of embankments by illegal sand extractors has also increased risk of breaches in Panthachowk-Shivpora stretch.

A spot visit revealed that illegal sand extraction is going on full swing at Pandrethan area along Jhelum.

The sand extractors run trucks on the repaired embankment to load illegally extracted sand from the river. Due to unabated flow of trucks, the embankment has caved in several feet making the area vulnerable to spill over water from Jhelum.

In absence of any monitoring, numerous constructions and shanties have come up on banks of Jhelum.

“The extracted sand is openly dumped along Srinagar-Jammu highway near Pandrethan and ferried to different areas in trucks parked there. Concerned officials are acting as mute spectators. Vandalisation of embankment has made our area vulnerable to floods,” said locals of Pandrethan.

In adjoining Shivpora area, the inhabitants are concerned over “inordinate delay” in strengthening of ‘repaired’ embankment.

“Due to incessant rains, the repaired embankment has been rendered weak. Whenever water level in Jhelum increases, we immediately shift to safer places. We are living a life of insecurity due to weak embankments,” said a group of residents of Shivpora.

In May last year, we carried a series of stories on imminent threat of floods to Srinagar due to crumbling river embankments. However, the authorities did not take any action to strengthen them—resulting in massive damage to life and property.

Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control JavidJaffar said the damaged embankments have been repaired.

“Our engineers are constantly monitoring embankments and they have been taking measures to strengthen it wherever it is required. We will also take action against those who damage embankments or undertake illegal sand extraction,” Jaffar said.