Four rivers flowing in the State, namely Jhelum, Chenab, Tawi and Surankot were in unprecedented spate owing to heavy rains early last month. Floods caused heavy losses. We have been getting rains so often but never did these rivers reach the level as they did now.
Responding to the request of the State Chief Minister, the Union Ministry of Water Resources has constituted a committee of three members to be joined by two more from the State to make a study of the reasons that caused floods in these rivers and suggest preventive measures. There has been strong thinking among higher circles in the Government and endorsed by hydrological experts that there should be another flood channel that would divert superfluous water of Jhelum and save the city of Srinagar from getting submerged whenever there are heavy rains. The water in all the four rivers flowed much above the danger mark which is almost unprecedented. What caused such a heavy flow of water needs to be clarified. Hopefully the committee will also try to find out why the project of digging additional flood channel was not undertaken and executed. There are many more questions connected with this calamitous event and that makes it all the more important that the Government should know what needs to be done to secure the city of Srinagar and adjoining areas from the ravages of flood.
It has also to be taken into consideration how far is it safe to allow building of residential houses and colonies in low laying areas prone to flood threat. Srinagar city is located on both banks of the river. By and large the old city has not been flooded and only new localities that came up during past few decades on low lying areas have had to bear the brunt. Why the disaster management agency failed to become responsive to the calamity that befell the city. Study of rise in the water level of Chenab and other two rivers of Jammu region is also very significant because all preventive measures need to be taken. Perhaps the Flood Control Department will need large expansion and streamlining to make the State safe against floods. Drudging of river beds to remove accumulated silt and removing other obstructions like encroachment on the banks of the rivers, deforestation and other aspects all need to be brought under consideration.
We hope that the committee formed by the Union Ministry of Water Resources will make in-depth study of the causes and suggest measures to control the rivers when in spate. Removal of unauthorized construction along the banks of the river, encroachment of land in the river bed, timely warning about rising waters and removal of vulnerable people before the floods overtake them are all important aspects that must be addressed. It is but logical that the committee seeks hydrological data from the State authorities before it comes to the State for physical inspection.
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