Decade on, Govt admits delay in Jhelum flood mitigation project phase II

Srinagar, Oct 30: Eleven years after the devastating 2014 floods, the government has admitted that the crucial phase-II of the Jhelum flood mitigation project, sanctioned under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP), was still under execution, even as flood threats continue to loom large over Kashmir.

In a written reply in the Legislative Assembly to a question by MLA Mushtaq Guroo, the Jal Shakti Department said, “Phase-II of the project has been sanctioned for Rs 1623.43 crore. Funds released by GoI (as CA) amount to Rs 114.29 crore as the first installment. Expenditure incurred is Rs 114.29 crore. Also, expenditure of Rs 46.27 crore has been made against advance action works in Hokersar Wetland from UT funds. Proposals for the release of additional installments have been sent to CWC Jammu.”

It said that the short-term flood mitigation measures were announced in 2015 as part of PMDP, with an overall allocation of Rs 2083.90 crore.

The department executed these measures in two phases – phase I and phase II.

“Phase-I, approved for Rs 399.29 crore in 2015-16 by the Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR), is almost complete as of now. The flood protection work worth Rs 200 crore has been executed under this project. Besides, land acquisition of 1750 canals worth Rs 142.33 crore was done,” the reply said.

According to the department, interventions under phase I have led to a significant rise in the carrying capacity of the River Jhelum.

“The outcome of these interventions under Phase-I has led to the increase of carrying capacity of River Jhelum from 31,800 cusecs to 41,000 cusecs (22 percent). Major bottlenecks in the flood spill channel were removed at Shariefabad and Naidkhai reach, and carrying capacity was doubled from 4000 to 8700 cusecs at off-take in respect of the flood spill channel,” it said.

The reply said that under both phases, 10.7 km of toe protection works, 8.8 km of pitching and revetment, and 4.25 km of bank raising have been completed along the Jhelum embankments.

Two major bridges at Naidkhai in Bandipora and Shariefabad in Bemina, Srinagar, were also constructed on the flood spill channel at a cost of Rs 35.29 crore.

Giving details of flood mitigation works in Srinagar, the department said, “The completed flood mitigation works executed under various heads post-2014 in the areas of Chanapora, Rawalpora, Baghat, and Barzula are PMDP phase II Part A (Rs 5.71 crore), SMRDA (Rs 1.27 crore), FMP phase I (Rs 1.05 crore), UT Capex (Rs 4.49 crore), and flood protection and anti-erosion works on Doodhganga Nallah (Rs 12.42 crore).”

The department clarified that there was currently “no such proposal” for the construction of new flood channels in Srinagar.

However, it said a study commissioned under JTFPR in 2019 is examining flood management and mitigation in the Jhelum basin.

“The objective of the study is to conduct a feasibility study of flood management issues and opportunities, to evaluate current and proposed flood and river management schemes, review proposed flood management options, identify potential solutions, and to prioritise options in consultation with stakeholders. The study is yet to conclude,” the department said.

A decade after the 2014 deluge, the continuing delay in the completion of phase II underscores the slow pace of flood control measures in Kashmir despite the sanctioned funds and periodic interventions.