Natural calamities caused by vagaries of nature are not an uncommon subject often discussed in official, non-official and media circles in Kashmir. A landlocked mountainous region placed at the bottom of bowl-like geographical formation, the valley has been the victim of recurrent floods, earthquakes and other calamities. History of Kashmir tells us of great natural disasters. Even desiccation of the Valley by an aperture in the mountains at Baramulla downstream made the waters of legendary Satisar flow out. In this way the Jhelum dried up the land and made it available for human habitation. This is what our mythological lore like Nilamata and Rajatarangini tell us.
Ancient history of Kashmir is replete with natural calamities especially floods. Severe famines have happened in the course of history when crops were washed away by flash foods and the land was laid waste. Even in modern times, floods have been occurring in the hilly state. Human beings are more or less powerless to control floods and its devastating consequences. Nevertheless, human beings have understood the advantage of living on higher levels than plain land but that is not the case with the plains of India which are level. As against this, the situation in Jammu as well as Kashmir is entirely different. In Jammu region, monsoon rains cause spate in various rivulets and nullahs which turn into monstrous oceans of water and wash away everything and anything that comes in the way of gushing waters. This is a phenomenon we have recently witness in Srinagar. The city was inundated by the rising Jhelum and almost all low lying areas in the ancient city were submerged under deep sheet of water.
Jammu had its share of devastation caused by September floods. The water of Nikki Tawi rose to unexpected level and washed away the bridge that connected 45 islands region of Phallain Mandal and Suhanjana in Marh constituency. The Pontoon Bridge raised by the army temporarily has been washed away about ten days back as a result of heavy rains. As of today, this strategically critical area as it stands close to Pakistan border remains cut off and inaccessible. Nearly six months have elapsed when the old bridge was washed away. The administration has failed to understand the criticality of the situation in which a border area is left inaccessible by road connectivity. It eloquently speaks about the dismal lack of interest on the part of administrative authorities be it the R&B Department or the office of the Divisional and District Commissioner. For six long months the Government never gave a thought to what difficulties students, patients, Government employees, medical staff and the general public was facing in a situation of no connectivity. Now, if the Sarpanchs and elders of the 45 island villages decide to launch public protest against Government’s apathy, they are justified. The Government gives them sufficient cause for demonstrating furiously against the authorities that care not a fig for their lives, essential goods, medical assistance, education and above all security. The nature, no doubt, has been hostile to them, but the administration has been more hostile than nature. For six long months the Government neither undertook to repair the damaged bridge nor made any serious effort to provide the people with a new bridge. More than 28, 000 people are reported to be remaining disconnected from the mainland. Unrest is brewing among the entire community and their protest, even if massive, cannot be brushed aside as unimportant. The Government at the Centre is committed to border connectivity. It is allocating enormous funds for borer road construction. Recently, a hefty package was announced for Ladakh border. It is but natural that the case of March bloc island villages is taken up on priority basis and the project of construction of a new bridge upstream somewhere is cleared without delay of time. There is no time to wait. We would like that the administration heeds the timely warning of unrest likely to spread among the people of the 45 villages and thousands of others of their sympathisers. Before any critical situation develops, we expect the Government to come out with firm commitment and time schedule about the new bridge over Nikki Tawi coming up.
Along with this, there is a serious matter of influential people with vested interests grabbing land from the bed of Barhi Tawi when water changes it course. Overflow of original Tawi is diverted towards the Nikki Tawi which causes sudden rise in the water of Nikki Tawi and the damages it has caused. The authorities should take note of the complaint made by the local people and find a solution to it.
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