Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 14: Two day workshop on `Floods and Rains in Jammu & Kashmir in 2014′, jointly organized by the Department of Geography and Regional Development, Kashmir University and Department of Geography, University of Jammu, concluded here today.
V Rajamani, Emeritus Professor, School of Environmental Science JNU and convener of the workshop, was the chief guest of the valedictory function. He gave a summary of the discussion held in the workshop over two days. He mentioned that the analysis of the data shows that in view of the global climatic change, the atmospheric interactions, which generate extreme events, bound to increase in the occurrence.
During the workshop, it was observed that Kashmir’s vulnerability to floods is not new due to its topographic and geomorphologic formation. However, the magnitude and intensity of recent floods exacerbated by the abuse of landscape in the form of encroachment of flood plains , flood channels and wetlands and deforestation of the catchment area.
In view of the vulnerability of the region, it was suggested that town planning exercises must take into account the preservation of the river fans and interfluves areas. State should enforce laws strictly and even introduce new laws to reclaim the wetlands and make them ecologically viable. In addition massive awareness programmes should be formulated and they should form part of the educational system.
The two day workshop was attended by renounced scholars and scientists from different institutions of the country. Among those who presented their papers and views were Ramesh Kumar Yadav, Scientist -D, Ministry of Earth Sciences , Dr Anupam Sharma, Scientist- E, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaebotony, Lucknow, Dr Someshwas Das, Scientist-G, Indian Metrological Department , New Delhi, Prof Baskar, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Prof M.S Bhat of KU, Anand Sharma from IMD , Sonam Lotus from IMD, Prof Ajit Tyagi, former Director General of Metrology, Dr Pardeep Srivastava, Scientist, Wadia Institute of Himalaya Geology, Dehradun, Kamaljit Ray Scientist-F ( IMD) and Prof A.P Dimri, School of Environmental sciences, JNU.
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