*Damages by Tawi, Jhelum, Chenab may have been avoided
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Sept 9: Several flood protection projects sent by the Jammu and Kashmir Government to the Union Government during the past some years have been gathering dust in the files of Ministry of Water Resources and Central Water Commission (CWC). Had these projects been sanctioned and funds released damages by the flash floods in Tawi and Chenab Rivers in Jammu and Jhelum River in Srinagar may have been avoided up to large extent.
Not only of Kashmir and of Jammu regions, the Union Ministry of Water Resources even handled the projects of Ladakh region in a very casual manner. This can be gauged from the fact that against an amount of Rs 100 crore sanctioned for the flood protection works along five major nullahs of Leh following flash floods of 2010, only an amount of Rs 10 crore has been released till date.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that for strengthening and beautification of embankments of River Tawi from Sidhra Bridge up to the 4th Bridge, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department of Jammu and Kashmir had submitted multi-crore project to the Union Ministry of Water Resources and Central Water Commission in the year 2008.
However, very limited funds were sanctioned because of which embankments of River Tawi could not be strengthened up to the required level, they said, adding in some portion very little work was executed while as at other locations only earthen work could be carried out.
“No major protection work was carried out between the 4th Bridge and two bridges connecting Bikram Chowk and Dogra Chowk in the absence of required funds”, they added.
Had the embankments of River Tawi between Sidhra Bridge and 4th Bridge been fully strengthened, extent of the damages during the recent flash floods could have been minimized, they said while disclosing that several components of the project titled “Flood Management Programme” were not taken seriously by the authorities of Ministry of Water Resources and CWC.
Similarly, a Detailed Project Report for flood protection and training of River Chenab was submitted to the Central Water Commission few years back but the same could not see light of the day till date.
For this project, J&K Government had engaged WAPCOF Limited, a Government of India Undertaking, as Project Consultant to undertake geological, hydraulic investigations and design. The company was also entrusted with the job of seeking technical approval from the Central Water Commission and Ministry of Water Resources for the implementation of the project. However, no significant development vis-à-vis project could be witnessed till date.
This is notwithstanding the fact that the then Minister for Health, Horticulture and Floriculture and presently Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma discussed the project with WAPCOF Limited a number of times.
“The project envisages flood protection and training of the River Chenab from Akhnoor to Hamirpur -Sidhar on Indo-Pak border”, sources said, adding “had this project been cleared by the CWC and Ministry of Water Resources and work carried out along river Chenab damage caused during the flash floods could have been avoided or reduced”.
Likewise, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department of the State had in 2009 sent Rs 2200 crore project to the Ministry of Water Resources for sanction. The project included many restoration works including improvement of Jhelum’s existing dredging of outfall channels, protection and anti-erosion works and increasing hydraulic efficiency.
However, the Ministry had few years ago approved only a part of the project and for the major components of the project, it raised several queries, which were answered by the concerned authorities.
“No further development took place since then on the project and outcome of the same is presently visible on ground in Srinagar whose major parts are inundated during the past several days due to breach in Jhelum bundh”, sources said.
What to talk of Jammu and Kashmir regions, the Union Ministry of Water Resources even adopted casual approach towards the Ladakh region. This can be gauged from the fact that following flash floods of 2010, the Leh district administration submitted several projects for training of major nullahs.
However, the Union Ministry sanctioned Rs 100 crore for only five nullahs and accordingly work was started. “Till date, the Ministry has only released Rs 10 crore against sanctioned cost of Rs 100 crore as a result of which flood protection works on these five nullahs remain incomplete”, sources informed.
Disclosing that Rs 400 crore project for flood protection works along Siachen river in Leh was also submitted to Union Government several years back, they said, “the fate of this project is also hanging in balance as concerned authorities of the Union Ministry failed to understand the importance of such works”.
It is pertinent to mention here that Siachen River is notorious for changing its course due to which land erosion and damage to the houses in the habitations along the banks of river has become a routine affair.
“Rainfall is not the only reason behind flooding of nullahs in Leh. These nullahs too get flooded due to melting of glaciers following increase in the temperature as such there is no justification behind sitting over the projects”, sources said.
Keeping in view the destruction caused by the flash floods in Tawi, Chenab and Jhelum Rivers during the recent flash floods, the Union Government should sanction the projects gathering dust during the past several years so that damages due to heavy rains in future could be avoided, sources stressed.
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