Saving our lifeline!
Much water has flown from river Jhelum since devastating floods hit Kashmir on September 7, 2014. Horrible memories of the devastation still haunt us.
11 years on, the question is what measures have been taken to prevent floods in Kashmir. People believe not much has been done to enhance flood mitigation measures. They are right as rains for a few days set flood alarms bells ringing. Jhelum swells and overflows after rains raising concerns over claims of enhancing Jhelum’s carrying capacity.
Why haven’t authorities been able to slow down flow of water into Jhelum in south Kashmir which forms major sources of the river? And why hasn’t the flood spill channel been enhanced and restored? What sums up the flood mitigation measures is construction of a cricket pitch in the middle of flood spill channel at Tengpora area in Srinagar. The flood spill channel from Ram Bagh to Tengpora is blocked at many places. The channel looks like a forest with massive growth of weeds. Where will the excess water flow in case of floods?
Ironically, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department has admitted that no dredging has been done in Jhelum and other flood channels for the period from March 2020 to March 2025. This information was given in response to an RTI filed by noted environmental activist MM Shuja.
In response to Shuja’s other queries, it is stated that dredging of Jhelum for flood mitigation was recommended by the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) study in 2018. The department claims to have de-silted 670 kms of canal network and removal of 2090 lakh cum of silt in 2023-24. It states that currently there is no fresh project report submitted for flood mitigation. However, the Jhelum and Tavi Flood Recovery Project (JTRPR) has done a flood mitigation study of the Jhelum basin for which a DPR has to be prepared. It is claimed that the carrying capacity of Jhelum has been increased from 30800 cusecs to 41000 cusecs since 2014. However experts refuse to believe this.
Following September 2014 floods, ‘Comprehensive Flood Management of River Jhelum’ was sanctioned under Prime Minister’s Development Programme (PMDP) to be implemented in two phases. Phase 1 was approved for 399 crore which was completed while work on another phase worth Rs 1623.43 crores is going on.
Jhelum is considered to be Kashmir’s lifeline. The river spans 175 sq kms from south to north Kashmir. However, the river and its floodplains lost its carrying capacity. Jhelum meanders in a serpentine way from south to north Kashmir and settles in Wullar, Asia’s largest freshwater lake, before pouring into Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) through Baramulla.
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.
Surrounded by mountains, Kashmir valley is one of the most flood hazard-prone regions in the Himalayas. The valley has been witnessing frequent floods 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 and 2006. The devastating was on September 7 2014 when 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.
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.
For over a decade, Kashmir-based Environmental Policy Group (EPG) has been fighting a long legal battle to enhance the carrying capacity of Jhelum. The High Court passed a slew of directions on Jhelum’s restoration on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) initiated by EPG.
Experts have been recommending cost-effective solutions like creating small storages, mini hydro projects in Jhelum’s feeder rivers and streams. These storages can act as flood moderation basins and will also recharge ground water.
To prevent floods. British engineers in 1903 came up with a solution by raising the river embankment and dredging the river from Sopore to Baramulla. However, due to massive soil erosion in catchment forests, siltation increased in Jhelum reducing its carrying capacity. In 1960, two mechanical dredges named Soya-1 and Budshah-were commissioned after being inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to dredge steep river reach from Sopore to Baramulla. The dredging continued till 1986 when the dredgers completed their designed lifetime. Thereafter no dredging was done for 26 years resulting in siltation of river regime as also of Wullar lake fed by Jhelum which resulted in the lake losing 30 percent of its volumetric. Wular is important as it absorbs flood water during high flows and releases it in low flow time to act as a sponge.
In 2012, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department procured and commissioned two modern cut suction dredgers to resume the contingent maintenance dredging from Sopore to Baramulla. This was a profitable project earning revenue from sale of dredged sand to the extent more than that to pay for the cost of machines and their operation. However, after 2014 floods conservation of Jhelum took a hit. We need to join hands to conserve Jhelum as it is our jugular vein, our lifeline!
Author is Executive Editor,
Greater Kashmir
