Srinagar, Aug 31: More than a decade after the devastating 2014 deluge, Kashmir’s flood management remains fragile, particularly along the northern tributaries of River Jhelum in Baramulla district, which continue to suffer from illegal extraction and due to encroachments.
Despite demands, little seems to have been done to strengthen embankments, regulate catchment areas and execute flood-mitigation projects. The absence of concrete measures has left vast swathes of north Kashmir vulnerable, with every spell of heavy rainfall reviving fears of another catastrophe.
During the 2014 floods, two major tributaries of the Jhelum, Nallah Ferozpora and Nallah Ningli, both originating from Affarwat mountain, wreaked havoc, damaged roads, bridges, and crop fields.
Ghulam Mohammad, who resides in Tangmarg said even after 10 years since the floods wreaked havoc, little to no progress has been made along the Nallah Ferozpora.
“Canals that were damaged by flood have not been reconstructed. Parapet walls which would serve as protection have not been constructed along the water stream.” he said.
He said illegal extraction continues in the Nallah with no proper oversight. “Instead of providing protection, a lot of damage has been caused due to uncontrolled extraction. If floods occur this time, the destruction could be massive,” the resident said.
Amid flood threats in some parts of the valley, people have been discussing the lack of protection measures and fear that if floods return, the situation could worsen, prompting renewed demands for protection walls.
“When there are protection walls, tippers and tractors cannot enter for excavation, and the water can flow in its natural course. But no such walls have been constructed,” he said.
However, Ex-En FBI of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Tangmarg, Afrooz Ahmad Rather, said that work on the Nallah is ongoing and further measures have been planned.
“There are two branches of Nallah Ferozpora, one is Magam and the other is Kunzer. This is a 65-kilometer river, and parapet walls are not possible everywhere. We have constructed parapet walls at vulnerable spots,” he said.
Rather said a comprehensive flood management proposal for the Nallah has been submitted, and once approved, full implementation of the measures will be ensured.
Similarly, as per local residents, the Nallah Ningli which flows through Kandi and joins Jhelum near Sopore, has faced neglect over the years and lack of proper measures has put it at risk of floods.
Mushtaq Ahmad, a resident of Wagoora said the flood recovery was not done at the expected level saying when water comes down in flood like situations it flashes down on stream. He said that the illegal extraction also continues which is putting the fragile Nallah to flood risks.
“Although a few crate bund (safety walls) were constructed while many patches have remained. Much of the work remains incomplete. A decade is a long time, we were expecting a comprehensive project for Ningli that would resolve the issue once and for all. Illegal encroachments should have been cleared, but that too has not been done,” he said.
He also complained that a bridge near Wagoora was sanctioned post floods but that is still incomplete evoking widespread resentment from locals.
Residents of Kandi area in Kreeri said the 2014 floods had severely affected the Ningli stream, considered a lifeline in north Kashmir. It wreaked havoc by damaging canals, bridges, roads, and agricultural fields.
Manzoor Ahmad, a resident of Kalantara, said the floods had damaged famous Shah Koul, one of the main canals that irrigates crop fields in dozens of villages but its repairs are still pending due to government neglect.
“It still lacks protection walls at several places. Whenever it rains, the canal gets damaged, cutting off water supply to agricultural fields. We are wholly dependent on farming, and it remains the mainstay of our economy,” he said.
However, AEE, Irrigation and Flood Control Department Baramulla, Rameez Ahmad, said a project worth approximately Rs 16 crore under NABARD has been approved, under which works including concrete bunds and stone pitching, are underway for Ningli.
“At the upstream, concrete bunds will be constructed at several identified spots along the Nallah. This is a two-year project, and we expect the main works to be completed within a year,” he said.
He added that post-2014 floods, Saisri Nallah, a branch of Ningli near Kachwamuqam, has been identified for protection. Some 8,000 meters of crate bunds have already been constructed, and an additional 200 meters will be built soon.
