Decade after devastating floods, no lessons learnt

Srinagar, Sep 07: Despite the passing of a decade after devastating floods hit Kashmir, authorities have failed to substantially increase the carrying capacity of river Jhelum and undertake flood mitigation measures.

THE DELUGE

On September 7, 2014, a spree of cloudbursts and incessant rains propelled a heavy flow of water overflowing river Jhelum and causing devastating floods. Jhelum crossed a record 23 feet at Ram Munshi Bagh gauge, while the level went over 36 feet at Sangam submerging localities on both sides of the river from south Kashmir to Srinagar. As per estimates, flood water measuring over one lakh cusecs surpassed the carrying capacity of Jhelum— causing massive devastation of property.

Kashmir valley is one of the most flood hazard-prone regions in the Himalayas. The valley has been witnessing frequent floods for centuries.

It witnessed floods on regular intervals with major ones in 1903, 1905, 1909, 1928, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1986, 1992, 1995, 1996, 2006 and the devastating one in 2014. Experts maintain that floods are mostly caused by the filling up of Jhelum’s flood plains and backwater effects due to low outflows from Wullar Lake which has lost its carrying capacity by heavy accumulation of silt.

Govt of India's initiative

After the 2014 floods, the Government of India launched a Comprehensive Flood Management programme in 2015 to increase the carrying capacity of Jhelum and its spill channels. Under PMDP, the project was to be completed in two phases. Phase 1 at the cost of Rs 399 crores has been completed. Phase II has been kick-started after being approved for Rs 1623.43 crores.

The Irrigation and Flood Control Department claims the carrying capacity of Jhelum has been increased from 30800 cusecs to 41000 cusecs since 2014. But the situation on the ground tells a different tale. The level of Jhelum suddenly rises after a spell of rain for few days and even at times reaches the Flood alarm level.

DETERIORATION

Considered to be Kashmir’s lifeline, Jhelum spans 175 sq kms from south to north Kashmir, has lost its carrying capacity and floods plains.  The river’s flat topography makes Srinagar the most vulnerable area to flooding in J&K. Wetlands on the left and right of Jhelum acted as reservoirs of the floodwaters. Ecologically important wetlands in the Jhelum floodplains like Hokersar, Bemina wetland, Narakara wetland, Batamaloo numbal, Rakh-e-arth, Anchar lake and Gilsar have been degraded due to rapid encroachment and urbanisation.

On-the-spot assessment of the flood spill channel reveals that no major dredging has been undertaken. Infact a large portion of the flood spill channel near Tengpora has been converted into a cricket field. A narrow channel nearby forms the flood channel now. The 48-km flood channel starting from Rambagh to Wullar lake, looks like a small canal due to silt deposition causing formation of a landmass.  At Rambagh, the flood spill channel has been overwhelmed by mounds of garbage, grass and debris reducing its carrying capacity. It looks more like a wetland!

In absence of sewage treatment plants, hundreds of drains and dewatering stations from south Kashmir to north Kashmir pollute the river.

EXPERTS RAISE RED FLAG

Experts too are not convinced of the flood mitigation measures so far. In absence of regulation, wanton constructions in flood plains of Jhelum have taken place in the last several decades.

“After some emergency restoration works undertaken immediately after the floods nothing substantive, neither by way of an engineering study nor by way of execution on ground, has been done. Post these emergency works dredging of the river was undertaken but the way it was executed clearly showed it was more of photo ops than a serious attempt to reduce the flood risk. In fact it can be argued that the way the dredging was executed it increased the flood risk to Srinagar city,” Iftikhar Drabu, a noted environmentalist told Greater Kashmir.

Elaborating, he said soon after the floods proposals were submitted to central government and funding was obtained. “But there is a big question mark on how much of the works executed were strictly falling under flood mitigation or flood protection,”

“From what one hears a number of works were executed which might not have in any way helped in reducing our flood risks. The Department has been targeting low hanging fruit and do not want to get into anything serious, meaningful and which will be a long-term solution to our flood woes

Drabu maintains that in last 10 years, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department could have undertaken an exhaustive study but literally nothing has been done and the time has just been wasted.”

“I&FC Department had invited tenders for consultancy for preparing a DPR for Jhelum in 1996-97 but the proposal was scuttled. The proposal was revived 10 years later but yet again it was scuttled. Eventually, several years after the floods the contract was awarded under JTRFR but nothing much is known of how far the study has been completed,” he said.

“On one hand we are working on flood mitigation measures and scratching our heads to find a solution while on other hand we are filling up our existing wetlands, marshes, swamps and flood detention basins; be it IIM, Transworld University, Rakh Arth housing or recently announced the 15000 crore NBCC project,” Drabu said.

“The most practical, cost-effective solution is to create small storages in the feeder rivers, streams. These storages schemes can act as flood moderation basins, will recharge ground water, can be used as picnic spots and for growth of pisciculture. We could even set up small hydro schemes using the storage ponds for generation during peak hours and most importantly make hybrid power projects using solar power,”said Drabu who is also a civil engineer with expertise in infrastructure.

“A decade after devastating floods, we are still witnessing flood-like situations after few days of rains. We believe that flood mitigation measures re not being implemented properly,” said MM Shuja, an environmental activist and co-convenor Environmental Policy Group who has filed several PILs on the conservation of environment.

“There must be an audit by a credible independent authority to verify the claims of the Irrigation and Flood Control department. It is clearly visible that the condition and carrying capacity of Jhelum are deteriorating and reducing fast,” Shuja said.

JUDICIAL INTERVENTION

On August 21, the High Court of J&K and Ladakh granted the government a week to file a status report indicating the steps it has taken in keeping with court orders to prevent a situation like that of the devastating floods in 2014.

On the previous hearing on June 11, the court had held that preventing the possibility of recurrence of devastating floods like 2014 remained its prime importance and had directed the authorities to file a detailed affidavit indicating steps taken in terms of various orders passed by the Court from time to time in this regard.

“This court, vide order dated October 9, 2017, with regard to the directions issued from time to time, particularly on August 18, 2017, and September 11, 2017, reminded the authorities that the court is not powerless in matters involving public interest. The Court is sufficiently empowered to take such action which would constrain the authorities to follow the dictates of law,” the Court held

The Court also sought the latest compliance report in terms of its order dated June 10, 2016, in which it, among others, had directed all the concerned Deputy Commissioners to ensure that no construction of any kind is raised near the water bodies within their territorial jurisdiction, which shall also include details in tabulated form regarding the encroachments removed on the River Jhelum.

Advocate Nadeem Qadri said the High Court has passed many landmark orders in Flood PIL initiated by Environmental Policy Group (EPG), under PIL No. 8 of 2017. “But the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has failed to implement the orders of the Hon'ble Court in letter and spirit. As an Amicus Curie. I am trying my level best to bring factual positions before the Hon'ble Court and identify the loopholes, so that the Government takes some preventive measures,”Qadri told Greater Kashmir.

“Very recently, the Hon'ble Division Bench passed 20 page order to remind the Government that Hon'ble High Court is not powerless and can invoke the powers for implementation of its orders. I believe the Government has not set the priorities related to Flood Prevention in Valley of Kashmir and no such tangible work is seen to mitigate the imminent threat of the Floods in Kashmir,” he said.

Qadri said the government must implement the orders of the High Court in letter and spirit and show their intense seriousness towards the flood prevention and preparedness, to save Kashmir from devastating floods like in 2014.

PEOPLE’S INITIATIVE

Environmental Policy Group has been fighting a long legal battle to restore glory of Jhelum. “We are committed to ensure flood protection measures are implemented in letter and spirit on the ground. We cannot afford to have another 2014-like floods which was Kashmir’s worst natural disaster in terms of economic loss,” said Faiz Ahmad Bakshi, convenor of EPG.

OFFICIALS SPEAK

Irrigation and Flood Department claims that since 2014, the carrying capacity of Jhelum from Sangam to Padhshahibagh has been increased. It states  that the carrying capacity at Ram Munshibagh, has been increased from 27,000 to 32,000 cusecs. Additionally, the off take at Padhshahibagh has expanded from 4,000 to 27,000 cusecs. In Wullar the outlet capacity at Ningli been increased from 20,000 to 22,700 cusecs, and at Sopore, it has increased from 31,000 to 35,000 cusecs respectively. The department claims that it has desilted 670 kms of canal network and removed 2.90 lakh cum of silt in 2023-24.

Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Department Braham Jyoti Sharma told Greater Kashmir that works on the flood mitigation projects are going on.

“Due to flood mitigation measures, carrying capacity of Jhelum has increased from 31,800 to 41,000 cusecs. After implementation, these measures will help to mitigate a low to moderate magnitude floods upto 60,000 cusecs discharge at Sangam point.”