Floods in the State, mostly during the rainy season, are almost a recurring feature. Jammu region spread out at the lower reaches of the Shivalek and Trikuta Mountains is watered by big and small rivers like Chenab, Tawi, Nikki Tawi and innumerable nullahs. Kashmir valley is like a bowl surrounded by mighty mountains, which are actually the branches of the Karakoram Mountain with large catchments swelling the rivers. In geographical terms, the entire state is prone to floods particularly when the monsoons bring heavy rains over the plains of India.
Ancient history of Kashmir and the region tells us that floods have very often brought great misery to the people by inundating villages and localities lying in the way of frequent flow of flood waters. Lands, crops, houses, live stock, trees and even habitats get submerged and devastated. This is natural catastrophe and human beings are helpless before them. If we look at past hundred years of our State’s history, we find that from 1900 A.D till date there have been at least 20 major floods with September 2014 being the most devastating of all. Though three years have passed since the last flood, its traces are still visible and the affected people are still in need of help for rehabilitation.
The past history and the tragedy that these floods have been bringing to the people should have become the catalyst to finding some effective solution to this recurring natural calamity. We are told that the main reason for inundation of localities is that the flow of water in natural drains is obstructed through human interference. The obstruction disallows the flood waters to run down feely. De-forestation on large scale results in the loosening of earth which makes room for floods and the resultant devastation.
After great floods of 2014 and the large scale devastation that it caused, a Parliamentary Panel visited Kashmir to make an assessment of damages done and suggested various measures which, if implemented, would effectively reduce the impact of floods. The suggestions of the Parliamentary Panel were both technical and administrative and the Centre was cooperative in providing the support structure for prevention of ravages of floods. An important recommendation was of drawing Master Plan for each flood-prone region taking local conditions into consideration. There was the need of extensive networking of flood forecasting so that as many as possible people could be shifted to safer places. Removal of unauthorized structures, opening new flood channels, clearing the drainage, forestation, eradicating wanton felling of forest trees, early flood warning and damage controlling mechanisms are some of the oft-repeated measures of meeting flood threats. However, till date these vital aspects have not received the required attention of the State Government. Neither the master plans for flood prone areas are anywhere in sight nor network of flood forecasting has been prepared so far. This clearly indicates that even after facing 20 major devastating floods the State has not learnt any lesson and it wants to remain mute spectator till the loss of lives and property during such incidents in future. Government’s insensitiveness in this crucially important matter is regrettable. Leh being at a height of above 11000 feet, too, had its share of floods and devastation some years back. The same is true about Jammu and Kashmir regions. Therefore, what is needed is a comprehensive and over-arching flood protection plan that should be in place and in regular process of implementation. The Government will not be exonerated from the gilt of failing in its duty to protect life, property, crops and lands of people when devastating floods overtake them.
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