The recent floods and flood like situation in entire Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has raised many a questions about the seriousness of the governments, that be, regarding efficient and scientific flood mitigation plans. Massive and disastrous floods of 2014 failed to shake the authorities, that be and that is why nobody here knows where did the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) amounting to ₹80,068 crore and the World Bank’s $250 million Joint Technical Flood Relief Project (JTFRP). How much of this money was spend on what. As the reports suggest that no dredging of Jhelum from or flood spill channels was done from 2020 to 2025, one need not be an rocket scientist to understand that in absence of dredging for so long would have reduced the carrying capacity of both Jhelum and the flood channel. While the funds that time were sanction so that the governments here will utilise these to have a robust flood mitigation plan but nothing of the sort was done. Forget about Jhelum, in Srinagar city, the drainages system is so pathetic that showers for an hour of so flood the streets of entire city with water seeping into residential houses and shops.
Jammu region has seen too much of destruction because of floods, flash floods and cloudbursts. Scores of villages in south Kashmir are under water and as on Thursday, water has entered several localities in the vicinity of Srinagar city too. God has been kind that rains have stopped otherwise we were very close to a bigger disaster. Though the concerned government agencies are on toes and evacuation process is going on swiftly, relief and rehabilitation plans too are being promised. Relief and rehabilitation is government’s duty but is that all. How to ensure that we have a mechanism present where such situation are not allowed to arise, or atleast minimise their ferocity.
One wonders why the governments, that be are so insensitive towards water bodies in Jammu and Kashmir. It is not only Jehlum, Tawi and Chenab too are facing the same crisis. The holding capacity of these rivers has depleted though the government claims otherwise. The floods in Jammu region have devastated lives and homes and hearths. Yes, the government may come up with some rehabilitation package but does that ensure that nothing of the sort happens in the future. The way people as well as the government have been chocking the natural outlets of the rivers and streams by unplanned and unscientific constructions, these calamities are bound to occur.
While in Kashmir and Jammu the government should immediately start the process of dredging the rivers and canals besides flood channels, it should take steps to free the water bodies from encroachments, both done by the people and government itself. Instead of indulging in blame game, the government, that be should focus on a longtime flood mitigation place and take steps to ensure that in future, Jammu and Kashmir is ready to face such natural calamities, undoubtedly aided and abetted by both the government authorities and the public in general.