Colony construction in wetland zones, flood basins has put Kashmir on brink of catstrophe

SYED ALI SAFVI

SRINAGAR, May 28: Incessant heavy rains have not only made life miserable for people here, but they have also exposed the underbelly of successive governments' claims for developing Srinagar city on modern lines.

With inadequate draining system, choked flood and outfall channels, the historic Srinagar city is on the verge of getting completely submerged in flood water.

According to official sources, Kashmir awaits a major flood catastrophe and government machinery has nothing in place to save Srinagar city and a major portion of the southern and northern part of the valley from being submerged.

They said that Kashmir has witnessed major floods after every 50-55 years. Last time, the valley had faced major flood in 1959.

Instead of dealing with the situation and make fool-proof arrangements for the safety of public, the sources said, the successive state governments have only made the matters worse by allowing colonies to be built on flood basins and active flood channels, thereby compounding the problem.

The successive governments on one hand allowed Nowgam, Hyderpora, Bemina, Mehjoor Nagar colonies to be built on flood basins, and on the other hand stopped regular desilting of flood channels that only made the matters worse, the sources said.

“The problem is that the existing flood channels and outfall channels have almost got choked,” they said. “27-km long outfall channels need urgent desilting otherwise the looming danger can prove devastating.”

The sources added that state government had asked the centre to provide Rs 500 crore for cleaning outfall and flood channels.

“The state government has received Rs 100 crore out of Rs 500 crore, sanctioned by the central government,” they said, adding that it will take almost four years to complete the desilting operation.

Talking to Kashmir Times, minister for PHE, irrigation and flood control, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, said that 32 years of neglect could not be put right within a year.

“Our engineers are mostly responsible for not keeping central government updated about the looming danger,” he said. “I have kept my fingers crossed. I pray to God to give me some time to set things right.”

Admitting that situation had worsened after colonies were built on flood basins and flood channels, he said that the months of July, August and September were very crucial for the entire valley.

“God forbid, if floods come, entire left part of Srinagar city and whole of Awantipora will be submerged,” he said. “Kashmir valley will be cut off from rest of the world as even the airport road will be flooded with several feet of water.”

He said that he can not stop floods from coming, but he would try to minimize the damage.

“Normally, a major flood remains for 20-25 days,” he said. “We have to get our act together to save human lives.”

The minister, however, said that the present rains did not pose any danger.

“Ending July, entire month of August and starting September are very crucial for the valley,” he said. “Presently, the heavy to moderate rains have been triggered by western disturbance.”

Pertinently, throwing all norms to the wind, the National Conference (NC)-led government had in late 1990s constructed a shopping complex on active flood basin at Batamaloo.

“Construction of complex at Batamaloo has had a huge impact on Hoker Sar, which has got filled up causing serious threat,” the official sources said.

Not learning lessons from the past mistakes, the Congress-led government constructed state of the art Hajj House on flood basin, and now the present NC-Congress coalition government is hell-bent on developing a colony at Rakh Arath, which again is a flood basin.