Flood Aftermath: ‘Winter appropriate time for Jhelum dredging’
The inaction by authorities to complete the dredging of river Jhelum and the spill channel so as to increase its carrying capacity, has become a cause of concern for local population.
Srinagar city bore the brunt of last year’s floods as habitations on both sides of Jhelum were submerged for several weeks. On September 7 last year, the water level in Jhelum broke all records— crossing 33-feet at Sangam at Islamabad (Anantnag) in south Kashmir and 23-feet at Ram Munshi Bagh here.
Due to the deluge, tons of silt from mountainous catchments settled in the river, drastically affecting its carrying capacity and hydrological system. As a result, the water level in Jhelum increases after a few days of rainfall.
Residents of various localities alleged that except lip service, no dredging was practically carried in the river. “Dredging is need of an hour and authorities have to take it as water level in river during winter remains very low. It is the best time to carry out the dredging,” said locals at Vethpora here.
They added that timely action would ensure to increase capacity of river which otherwise has actually lost its capacity to hold two days of rain. “The slow pace of dredging and flood mitigation measures has put question mark over the seriousness of the Government to prevent flooding of the summer capital. Presently, the water level in Jhelum is considerable low and even the flood spill channel is dry and experts maintain this is the best time for dredging,” said GM Ganie of Vethpora.
“The slow pace of flood mitigation measures signifies that government is waiting for another flood. Jhelum and flood spill channel has been overwhelmed by tons of silt. Due to siltation, the normal flow of the river has been hampered. This is the reason for abrupt rise of water level in Jhelum after a few days of incessant rains. Sustained dredging on war-footing is need of the hour to save Srinagar from floods,” said Manzoor Ahmad Magrey of Syed Abad of Soiteng here.
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 recommended immediate de-siltation of lakes, revival of flood basin of Khushalsar, Gilsar, Anchar, Hokharsar, Shalabugh, Haigam, preparing a flood zonation map, construction of an alternate flood channel from Sangam, Kandizal to Wular and regular dredging of rivers to meet the possible future scenarios.
People in city urged authorities to take all possible timely measures to avoid any big disaster.
“The timely action is better than the mere assurances that authorities are doing lot,” said locals at Shivpora.
Javid Jaffar, Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control Department said that dredging is going on at various places. “We will expedite process as the union government has now also allocated funds for it, but is also not true that nothing is happening on the ground.”
