Authorities sit on strengthening of embankments

Inordinate delay by authorities in undertaking repairs of embankments of river Jhelum and Doodh Ganga has evoked strong resentment among people living along the banks.

The embankments of Jhelum and Doodh Ganga in the summer capital were severely damaged due to devastating floods last year. Though the Irrigation and Flood Control department plugged breaches on the embankments, however the people of flood prone areas accuse it of failing to take tangible flood mitigation measures.

As Jhelum has lost its carrying capacity due to extensive siltation, few days of rainfall causes abrupt rise in its water level. Few days ago, flood-like situation was created in the summer capital with Jhelum touching 21.65 feet—–5.65 feet above alarm level at Ram Munshi Bagh.  Pertinently, on September, 7 last year Jhelum had crossed record 23-feet at Ram Munshi Bagh gauge here submerging localities on both sides of the river including city’s commercial hub Lal Chowk and its adjoining areas.

On June 26, overflowing Jhelum had also led to major breach at main chowk Pampore posing threat to nearby residential areas.  “It is ironical that despite passing of nine months since the devastating floods, authorities have failed to repair the damaged embankments,” said Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Pampore.  Locals said the spots where breach had occurred during last year’s deluge, were again vulnerable to floods.

At Shivpora, which bore the brunt of floods last year, authorities have placed sandbags at various places to plug the breaches. “The repairs of embankments in our locality was not done properly. How can sandbags withstand the force of Jhelum?,” asked a group of locals of Shivpora said pointing towards repaired breach at Purnibal area there.

“Due to weak embankments, we have been living in constant fear of floods. It seems Government is in hibernation. With few inches of rainfall, we have to migrate to safer places. Authorities must construct gabion walls to prevent breach of embankment,” they said.

In absence of any monitoring, vandalisation of embankments by illegal sand extractors has also increased risk of breaches along Pantha Chowk-Shivpora stretch. Spot assessment reveled 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 of water from Jhelum.

Residents of Sonwar said authorities had placed sand bags to plug breach near foot-bridge caused during floods last year. “For how many decades shall the authorities wait to permanently repair the embankment?,” asked the aggrieved residents.

They said authorities have also failed to repair a damaged sluice gate near the foot bridge. “In absence of repairs, the sluice gate remains slightly open paving way for waters of Jhelum to leak through it into the residential areas. We had many times taken up the matter with concerned authorities but they have failed to repair it,” said Raies Malik, a member of the Cantonment Board.

The locals said in case of high water levels in Jhelum, its water through the leaking sluice gate can submerge residential areas including Sonwar, Badami Bagh, Indira Nagar and Palpora.

People living along the embankments of Doodh Ganga river in Srinagar also decried delay in flood mitigation measures. “The repaired embankments in our area are too weak to withstand flow of Doodh Ganga. Authorities must take tangible measures to strengthen the embankments on priority,” said the residents of Khan Mohalla at Baghat here.

Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Javid Jaffar said the department’s priority after last year’s flood was to plug the breaches.

Jaffar said for past nine months, the department has been regularly repairing weak and breach spots on embankments in Jhelum. “Due to this, there was no major breach in Jhelum embankments till now this year despite high water levels triggered by incessant rains. However, there are some weak spots on embankments where we have to undertake restoration. But it will be only possible when water level is low” the CE said.

“People should not panic as our engineers are constantly monitoring the embankments and undertaking repairs wherever required,” he added.