Current flood situation and the lessons thereof

The global warming has led to global climate crisis. This has forced the scientists and heads of the states to think and find out measures to counter the challenge.

The main causes are human activities like burning of fossil, deforestation, industrial and agricultural activities. Natural factors have minor role to play such as volcanic eruption, solar variations and ocean currents. Its worst impact is visualised through frequent and intense heat waves, natural disasters, water and food insecurity, and lastly on the loss of biodiversity and species extinction.

Kashmir has a long history of floods even when there was no conception of global warming. It was during the Dogra rule, the dredging of river Jhelum was first under taken and Rambagh flood channel was constructed to save the city of Srinagar from floods. But after 1947 very less attention was paid by the respective governments. The imprints of damages in our memory left by the floods of 2014 in Kashmir have hardly subsided.

One of my friends who is an expert in the subject has rightly said that actually “nothing concrete has been done after 2014, to mitigate the climate change responsible for increasing the river capacity or to divert the expected future increased volume of flood river water” in both the divisions of Jammu and Kashmir. We all know that both the cities of Srinagar and Jammu have witnessed manifold increase in the population and in the number of houses due to unplanned urbanisation since 1990. The houses have been constructed on paddy and the wetlands of the suburb areas of Srinagar city, once used to serve buffer to absorb and hold excessive rain water.

Deforestation is one of the main causes responsible for change in the climate pattern. The forests in both divisions of J&K have already suffered a lot since 1947, due to ruthless cutting of trees. In 1980’s a lot of activities of felling of trees was seen going on in the forests of then district Doda by the forest lessees and later on by the sub-contractors of SFC, that one could find easily by witnessing the huge quantum of timber sleepers and logs being transported through river Chenab to the collection point at Ramban. A big scam of illicit felling of trees was unearthed by the local police of the time, in which a known forest lessee was also involved. Similarly, in Kashmir, particularly in Lolab forests, reportedly ruthless felling of trees had also taken place in 1980’s and 1990’s. In 1980’s the Sangarwani forests of Pirpanchal range in District Budgam and Pulwama were largely damaged by the timber smugglers with the connivance of some forest officials.

To counter these illegal activities, number of timber smugglers were detained under PSA by the concerned police of the time from 1985 to 1988 to prove as a deterrent. Unfortunately the afforestation done by social forestry department was very negligible as compared to deforestation due to minimum rate of survival of trees that were planted. The deforestation reached to the peak after 1990, during militancy period. To revive our forests, called as green gold, we have to plant the trees on war footing to make our future generation safe from this climatic change.

Secondly, after 2014, whatever dredging was done in Jhelum in 2018 had reportedly damaged the riverbed and also its embankments, instead increasing its capacity. A negligible de-siltation has been done in the flood channels of Rambagh and Rawalpora. And in Rawalpora flood channel, the unskilled dredging has not only weakened its banks but at some places also the base of embankments were seen damaged due to excessive earth cuttings. The unabated illegal activities of sand mining in the rivers, streams and Nallahas, both in Jammu and Kashmir divisions have created a havoc with theses water bodies. Such activities have not only disturbed the riverbeds but also their embankments. The role played by irrigation & flood control and G&M departments in the prevention of floods is also questionable

It is also said that the excessive and unnecessary sand mining has destroyed bio-culture and the sensitive ecology of theses water bodies. The rampant development of roads and tunnels on the hills of Pirpanchal and Chenab valley have also contributed to land-slides and the environmental disturbances in the areas located around it.

In Jammu the experts are of the opinion that the construction of River Front project in River Tawi has also contributed to some extent to the current deluge. This project has not only carved out some part of its embankment but a major portion of river bed has also been used for its construction, which has helped to hamper the free flow of flood waters. The encroachment and unabated construction of houses in unplanned colonies on the banks of Nallahas in Jammu have also contributed to the current floods in Jammu district. The increased frequency of cloud bursts in Jammu is also an indication of change of climate pattern. The cutting of trees and building of roads in the forest areas in the name of development and promotion of tourism need to be re-examined by the government in the context of present floods. 

The eco-diversity and environmental factors need to be kept in view while thinking of promotion of the tourism sector.

It seems that we have not learnt any lessons from 2014 floods of Kashmir. A number of high rise commercial buildings have come up even after 2014 in Raj Bagh, Gogjibagh, Rawalpora, Hyderpora, Bemina and Srinagar byepass areas which are mostly prone to floods. Jammu and Kashmir has a fragile and mountainous area, therefore every development project needs a thorough wetting and screening, keeping in view its impact on environment and eco-diversity. The de-silting process of rivers, streams and flood channels needs to be made as a regular feature by the concerned department.

The climate change now warrants a proper integrated water management plan and all activities need to be integrated to accomplish the required results. The close monitoring of funds allotted for this purpose and accountability of concerned officers and implementing agencies should be the priority of the government.

Abdul Rashid Khan is a retired

IPS officer.