In September last, Kashmir valley and parts of Jammu were struck by unprecedented natural calamity in the shape of flood caused by incessant rains. The city of Srinagar, situated on both banks of Jhelum, was flooded up to second storey of residential houses in low laying areas. The State Government was not prepared to meet the challenge from such devastating floods, and the problems it brought in trail. Survey teams appointed by the State as well as the Central Government, gave detailed reports of vast damages to residential houses, public establishments and the infrastructure. The Government was paralyzed because life came to a standstill for some days and communication broke down in full.
Heavy rains are not unknown to Kashmir or to Jammu. Even floods are not unknown. But September floods unleashed their tremendous capacity of devastating the city of Srinagar as was never witnessed before. Low lying areas often get inundated but the city has not seen such a calamitous situation. A number of reasons are given for the flooding of the city. Of late, we are told that absence of an outlet in Hokarsar wetland, into which the water of the Flood Channel disgorges, forced the flood waters to push back and break the bund of the river at vulnerable sites close to the city.
Whatever is the reason, the task before the Government and the society is to rebuild the damaged infrastructure and rehabilitate the people who became victims of flood. On the request of the State Government, endorsed by the Central Government, the World Bank has agreed to offer a loan of 1500 crore rupees for rebuilding the devastated infrastructure and rehabilitating the affected people. There are three parties to the agreement; the State Government, the Central Government and the World Bank.
We cannot say whether the sanctioned amount would be sufficient to replace the damaged infrastructure. Nevertheless, State Government has made it clear to the World Bank what tasks the State would precisely undertake by debiting these to the loan head from the World Bank. As there is firm commitment from the State as well as the Central Government, one understands that the State of J&K will respond to the goodwill gesture of the World Bank with all seriousness. We have noted with despair that in the case of many Central projects, the State has not been able to do justice, and, in some crucial projects, funds remained unutilized. The World Bank is keen to monitor the utilization part of the amount of loan advanced to the State of Jammu and Kashmir. It has promised to begin releasing funds once the State Government starts specific work. Essentially, the State Government will have to divide the task into two sections, building infrastructure and rehabilitating the affected people.
There is the priority of taking preventive steps so that in a situation of rains and flood in the river and its tributaries, the city of Srinagar or any other town in the valley or in Jammu region is not threatened. De-silting of the Flood Channel and tributaries, outlet at Hokarsar wetland area and removing the silt that has piled up there, restarting the drudging of the nullahs and river and other water bodies in Kashmir and in parts of Tawi in Jammu, are among the first priority of reconstructing the infrastructure. It is important that the State Government removes illegal constructions on water bodies that obstruct free flow of water. At the same time, providing adequate shelter and means of subsistence to the flood affected families is also among its priorities. We are hopeful that the Government will initiate these works without loss of time as money will also begin to flow in.
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