SRINAGAR: Alleging that the government has not learnt any lesson from September 2014 floods, CPI (M) leader and MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami today said even after two years, no process has been initiated to develop a long-term flood risk reduction strategy in Kashmir.
Demanding white paper on devastation caused due to September 2014 deluge, he said whenever there is a catastrophic event, governments immediately commission studies, hold investigations and consultations to understand the causative factors and lapses, but no such initiative either from centre or state seems to have been initiated to study the 2014 deluge. Speaking on the demand for grants of Irrigation, Flood Control and PHE departments in Legislative Assembly, the CPI (M) leader urged government to invite experts from across the country to formulate a comprehensive flood management plan.
The CPI (M) leader said, “Time and again we have been demanding measures for staggering the flood peaks of the high radiant tributaries including Veshu which pour huge amounts of flood waters in Jehlum, but government seems to be least bothered.
“We had three flood alerts last year, none of which fortunately turned into deluge downstream but large areas in the Veshu and adjacent catchments were inundated, he remarked. Why doesn’t government put in place Flood Early Warning System (FEWS), so that people are saved from the recurrent agony about flooding as and when it starts raining,” he questioned.
Demanding serious introspection by the government, he said people are feeling desperate and disillusioned due to governance deficit and added that we need adequate funding for developmental projects instead of making tall promises. (AGENCIES)
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