Srinagar, Avantipora, Sonawari highly vulnerable to flood: Survey
• Jhelum, Chenab, Indus, Tavi prone to flash floods
• Srinagar needs special focus for construction of flood protection infrastructure, dredging
• J&K faces high threat of earthquake
With the memories of last year’s devastating flood still fresh, an official report tabled in Legislature Council has warned of another deluge in parts of Kashmir valley.
Economic Survey Report 2014-15 describes areas of Kashmir especially Srinagar, Avantipora and Sonawari “highly prone to another flood” anytime.
“There are two haunting threats to J&K that need serious attention from all stake holders- one is earthquake and another is flood. Many areas especially Srinagar, Avantipora and Sonawari are prone to devastating floods anytime again with parts of Jammu Province which gets high discharge during rains can cause devastation,” the report reads.
The survey emphasizes that upper catchments of all the tributaries of Jhelum, Chenab, Indus and Tavi are prone to flashfloods.
The report says that Srinagar city which got partially submerged due to September floods last year will require special focus for construction of flood protection infrastructure, dredging of rivers and development of one more flood spill channel to off load the main river from flood waters.
The report states that more than 700 villages remained submerged in the September floods.
“Srinagar got submerged due to flood water in which 300 people lost their lives while 6.48 lakh hectare agricultural land got affected. About three lakh houses got partially and fully damaged as 700 villages were under water,” it reads.
It says owing to the extreme bad weather conditions and underdeveloped economy, the state has suffered a lot on account of natural disasters leading to massive loss of human lives, public and property.
Meanwhile, the survey also speaks of imminent earthquake as 11 percent of state falls under Seismic Zone-V covering areas like Srinagar, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Budgam, Anantnag, Pulwama, Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar.
“These areas cover 50 percent of the population of the state, on the other hand whole of Ladakh region and Jammu division falls under Seismic Zone-IV covering 90 percent population of the state. The lives and properties in these zones is at high risk of earthquake,” the report reads.
Owing to bad weather conditions, the report says that fragile soil in hilly areas is susceptible to soil erosion.
