Morphology is the science of behaviour of rivers, nullahs, stream and other water bodies. Nature’s vagaries are proverbial that impact the behaviour of water bodies. But human intervention is no less a factor that impinges upon the good and regular behaviour of water bodies. Owing to our lack of knowledge, we have seldom gone beyond the concept of the utility of water bodies limited to drinking and irrigation of fields. Actually, there is much more in the behaviour of water bodies than what meets the eye.
Morphology is an extensive science intended to acquaint human beings with numerous aspects of rivers, streams, lakes, glaciers and other forms of water bodies. If we are to control rivers and streams so that these do not flood cities and villages and inundate fields, it is necessary that we make a general behavioural study of these water bodies in normal times. Behavioural study is the pre-requisite for understanding how things can shape in times of abnormal climatic conditions. In our State, we often come face to face with erratic behaviour of the rivers, lakes and other water bodies.
J&K is a State with abundant of water. The fact is that our water resources have not been put to optimum use so far, be it irrigation and watering the soil or for drinking and bathing purposes. Despite sufficient water resources State has never thought of conducting morphological study of its water resources. Our state is prone to floods especially during the rainy season. Almost all rivers, streams and nullahs overflow with rain water. It is in this season that most of the floods occur. Some remedial measures could have been taken to reduce the impact of floods and losses caused to crops, animals and human beings.
The question is why has not the State Government taken any step in this direction so far? In 2014 the State was overtaken by one of the worst floods in past one century as the flood water entered the main streets of the city of Srinagar. Jammu, too, had its share of flood devastation. Even then the Government has not woken from deep slumber. We have noted that the State Government has been cautioned by the Centre at proper time to give due importance to the morphological study of the rivers and water bodies to minimize the impact of calamities like floods. The Central Water Commission (CWC) under the Union Ministry of Water Resources had, in the month of March 2009, issued detailed guidelines for conducting of morphology studies of rivers and water bodies particularly those which have the history of causing floods. These guidelines were for all States whose rivers are prone to floods. Unfortunately J&K Government did not pay any heed to it and even now when we have suffered in 2014, the Government does not move. There is large scale encroachment of river beds; huge unauthorised structures have been raised that obstruct flow of water; embankments of rivers and nullahs are either broken or low; outlet channels are silted and so forth and so on. All these issues could have been studied scientifically and solutions found if the State Government had taken time by forelock. True that in a recent meeting held at Srinagar, the Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation found it appropriate to direct the concerned authorities to conduct the study for river morphology and embankment assessment of Jhelum, Tawi and other rivers and water bodies. This is a belated decision. Nevertheless, all that we can say is that even now if a study will be conducted, it will take not less than two and a half years for the team to prepare a report. Who knows whether the State will escape the wrath of floods and devastation till the time the morphological report becomes implementable. In case the State Government wants to undertake morphological study expeditiously, it can engage an expert firm for the purpose and obtain the report within a shorter period of time. We would recommend that option so that we can cut the time to begin practical steps in ensuring that rivers do no become the cause of devastation.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel