Srinagar, Jul 21: Twelve years after the devastating 2014 floods, Kashmir is still awaiting a comprehensive, long-term flood management plan, even as repeated flooding and flash floods continue to expose vulnerabilities across the Valley. The Flood Control and Irrigation Department, however, says it has put in place all necessary mitigation and preparedness measures to deal with any flood emergency during the ongoing wet spell. The department has strengthened embankments, carried out regular dredging of the Jhelum, reinforced vulnerable stretches, deployed men and machinery, stocked sandbags and activated water-level monitoring systems across Kashmir.
Experts and officials, however, say such measures may reduce flood damage but cannot prevent future disasters without scientific management of the Jhelum and its tributaries. “Only dredging the Jhelum and strengthening its embankments will not be enough. The government should have put in place a sustainable flood management plan with a dedicated budget for the Jhelum and its tributaries,” a senior Flood Control and Irrigation Department official said. He said the plan should include restoration of flood spill channels, scientific management of major tributaries, construction of check dams and detention reservoirs in upper catchments, afforestation and strict regulation of construction along rivers, streams and nallahs.
“Check dams and small reservoirs slow the flow of water before it reaches the Jhelum. They recharge groundwater, conserve water and reduce soil erosion. Afforestation in upper catchments is equally important because tree roots hold the soil together and reduce erosion during heavy rainfall,” he said.
The September 2014 floods exposed serious shortcomings in Kashmir’s flood management system, causing extensive damage in South Kashmir before submerging Srinagar for over three weeks. Hydrologists had then identified the Veshaw, originating from Kausarnag in Aharbal, Kulgam, as one of the major contributors to the sudden rise in the Jhelum.
The Veshaw, one of the river’s largest tributaries, joins the Jhelum at Sangam, where the Rambiara, Romshi and Tongri Nallah also add to the river’s discharge during prolonged rainfall. The Veshaw has the highest discharge among the Jhelum’s tributaries. The Jhelum is also fed by major streams including the Lidder, Brengi, Aripath, Sandran, Veth-Vethroo, Aripal and Lar in South Kashmir, and Doodhganga, Sukhnag, Ferozpora Nallah and Ninghli Nalla in central and north Kashmir. Officials say effective flood management requires treating the entire river system rather than focusing on the Jhelum alone. Since 2014, repeated floods and flash floods have damaged roads, bridges, irrigation infrastructure, paddy fields, apple orchards and vegetable farms across South Kashmir, particularly in Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, and Pulwama. Though none matched the scale of the 2014 disaster, the floods caused extensive damage to infrastructure, farmland and horticulture.
“Villages and tourist spots along the Veshaw, Lidder and other major tributaries in Kashmir remain vulnerable during prolonged rainfall,” another Flood Control and Irrigation Department official said. He said heavy rainfall or cloudbursts between June and September frequently cause these streams to swell before the additional discharge reaches the Jhelum, inundating downstream areas. “In low-lying areas, particularly Srinagar city, even a small downpour causes waterlogging every year due to the loss of wetlands and flood channels,” an official said. He said natural buffers had disappeared, leaving excess water with limited outlets. “The irrigation canals and natural water channels that once carried away excess water remain choked across the Valley, particularly in cities and towns, due to rapid urbanisation,” the official said.
Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Committee on Environment and legislator Muhammad YusufTarigami said the lessons of 2014 had still not been translated into a long-term flood management plan. “We should have had a sustainable flood management plan long ago. Despite repeated reminders since 2014, successive governments have not even constituted an expert panel to scientifically study flood-prone tributaries such as the Veshaw for proper treatment,” Tarigami told Greater Kashmir. He said governments had continued to respond after floods instead of investing in long-term measures to reduce the risk. Chief Engineer, Flood Control and Irrigation Department, Showkat Hussain, acknowledged that a comprehensive flood management programme was still awaited but said all preparedness measures had been put in place.
“Our Flood Zone Committee is monitoring the situation round the clock. We have adequate sandbags, manpower and machinery to respond to any breach,” Hussain said. He said automatic water-level recorders were operational at several places, including Sangam, Awantipora, Pampore, Rambagh, Asham, Bandipora, Wullar, Khudwani and Batkote. “Regular dredging since 2014 has improved the Jhelum’s carrying capacity, while vulnerable embankments have been strengthened across Kashmir,” Hussain said. He said several other measures had also been taken in Srinagar to drain excess water from the city. Superintending Engineer, Hydraulic Circle Anantnag, Sareer Ahmad Wani, said engineering measures alone would not prevent floods unless natural waterways were protected.
“Flood spill channels have narrowed because of encroachments and construction along rivers and nallahs, restricting the natural flow of excess water,” Wani said. “With every downpour or cloudburst, overflowing nallahs and streams has become common, increasing the risk of flash floods.”
He said indiscriminate dumping of waste into streams had reduced their carrying capacity, while blocked Jhelum tributaries and water channels were causing recurring waterlogging in several low-lying areas. Wani said low-lying parts of Anantnag town and adjoining localities often witnessed waterlogging even after moderate rainfall because several tributaries, drains and smaller water channels had been choked over the years.
“The natural flow of water gets disrupted, leading to inundation in the town and its vicinity. Improving drainage, restoring canals and flood spill channels and protecting natural watercourses can significantly reduce the problem,” he said.
Wani said the Soil and Water Conservation Department was entrusted with constructing small reservoirs in upper catchments to slow runoff and conserve water.
An official, however, said such measures needed to be integrated with basin-wide management of the Jhelum and its tributaries to provide lasting protection against floods.
