J&K Govt: Climate change responsible for frequent flood in Leh

SRINAGAR:  Admitting that there has been frequent incidence of flood in Leh district of Ladakh  region since last six years, Jammu and Kashmir government today said it is most likely due to climate change.

This was stated by Minister for Public Health Engineering (PHE) and Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Shyam Lal Choudhary in reply to a question raised by Nawang Rigzin Jora, of Congress in the state Legislative Assembly.

Mr Jora has asked whether it is a fact that the climate change has resulted in increasing incidence of flood in Ladakh region. The minister admitting that it is most likely that frequent incidents of flood in Leh was caused by climate change.

At the local level flood protection measures under centrally sponsored schemes such as “Flood Management Programme (FMP)” and some minor flood protection measures are currently being executed.

The reply said five FMP have been sanctioned for Leh which included construction of Flood Protection Wall and taming of Ney-Basgo Nallah, Phyang Nallah, Saboo Nallah, Igoo Nallah and Nimoo Nallah. He said the total cost of these projects was Rs 22,710 lakh against which Rs 5,276.67 lakh has been expended while Rs 1,438.62 lakh has been released during 2016-17. (AGENCIES)