Srinagar, Sept 04: Congress Leader and Media Coordinator for Kashmir, Dr Audil Farooq Mir has once again urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to urgently implement comprehensive flood mitigation strategies to protect the region from recurring disasters.
“A robust political will is essential to address the looming threat of floods that continue to disrupt the lives of Kashmiris,” Dr Audil said while speaking to the media. “We cannot afford to remain passive spectators while our people suffer from these recurring natural calamities.”
He commended the relentless efforts of the administration and field officers from the Irrigation & Flood Control Department. “Despite facing social and administrative pressures, these dedicated officers have worked tirelessly to manage the recent flood-like situations. Their dedication during these challenging times has been exemplary and deserves our recognition,” he said.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Dr Audil pointed out that recent floods have caused significant devastation across the region.
“In August 2025 alone, flash floods and landslides resulted in substantial casualties across Kashmir. The cloudburst in Chositi village of Kishtwar district on August 14 was particularly catastrophic, claiming numerous lives and displacing hundreds of families. These tragedies could have been prevented with proper planning and implementation of flood control measures,” he emphasised.
The Congress leader underlined that his call for flood control measures is not new but rooted in a family legacy of public service. “From the archives, I have quoted a copy of a letter written by my grandfather, the late G. M. Mir Lasjan, to the then Chief Minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, highlighting the urgency of flood mitigation. In a follow-up line, I too have dedicated myself to public interest causes in the same spirit of uplifting people’s lives,” he said.
He urged the government to prioritise the flood mitigation program already available with the Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India. “I urge upon your good self to ensure effective implementation of the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP) through resectioning of the flood channel from Padshahibagh to Wular, alongside strengthening the embankments of River Jhelum from its origin till its tail end at Uri,” Dr Audil appealed.
Reflecting on historical precedents, he said, “I am also reconstructing from the archives the detailed report submitted in 1976 with a copy forwarded to late Madam Indira Gandhi ji. Those recommendations remain the gold standard of flood mitigation and must form the guiding framework today.”
“I have repeatedly advocated for comprehensive flood mitigation measures that include construction of robust embankments and flood barriers, systematic dredging of water channels and drainage systems establishment of a state-of-the-art early warning system, regular maintenance of existing flood control infrastructure and community-based disaster preparedness programs,” he reiterated.
Dr Audil stressed the need for adequate funding, stating, “These critical initiatives require dedicated funding comparable to the budgets allocated for major infrastructure projects like railways. We must prioritise the safety of our people with the same urgency and financial commitment that we show for other development projects.”
