Srinagar, Mar 15: Kashmir is prone to floods and it is witnessing one notable flood once in six years on average while steps have been taken to increase the carrying capacity of Jhelum.
Replying to a MLA question of Farooq Ahmad Shah, Minister for Jal Shakti said that Kashmir valley is prone to flood since ages. Floods of 1902, 1959 and 2014 were the extreme floods events in the recent living memory.
“As per records, 34 notable floods have been witnessed in Jhelum basin since 1800, the recurrence is almost 1 per 6 years on average,” he said.
“Under PMDP package of 2015 announced by Hon’ble PM of India after September 2014 deluge, an amount of Rs. 2083 Cr was earmarked for Flood Management of River Jhelum and its tributaries. The DPRs were subsequently framed for implementation in two phases Phase I & Phase II for short term and long term flood measures (PMDP-I Rs 399.29 crores + PMDP-II Part-A Rs 1623.43 crore). Phase-1 was approved for Rs.399.29 Cr. in 2015-16 by Ministry of Water Resources (MOWR) and is nearing completion. The carrying capacity of river Jhelum was enhanced from 31800 Cusecs to 41000 cusecs in Srinagar Reach,” he said.
The project is under execution and Rs. 114.293 Cr. from Central Assistance has been spent. A total of 30 bank protection works are being executed under this project out which 29 have been tendered and 16 are complete. The progress of these works is 80% in aggregate.
“The Entry and Exit Gates in Hokersar wetland have been completed at a Cost of Rs. 28.45 Cr. These gates have been pivotal for rejuvenation of the Hokersar wetland. During lean period season, the gates will be closed to maintain pondage level of 3-4 feet within the wetland area for nourishing the wetland’s ecosystem and provide habitat for migratory birds. Due to difference in reports of expert agencies, the works on Flood spill channel (FSC) and outfall channel (OFC) have not been commenced. After series of deliberations over 11 meetings, the CWC report has been received in Dec, 2024 and is presently under examination. Phase II (Part-A only) was approved by MOWR in the March 2022 for an estimated cost of Rs. 1623.43 Cr. The objective of Phase II (Part-A) is to mitigate flood threat of 60,000 cusecs,” Minister said.
The DPR of “Comprehensive Flood Management works on River Jhelum & its tributaries- Phase-II” was framed at an estimated cost of Rs. 5411.54 Cr. and the same was submitted to the DoWR (RD&GR), MoJS, Gol on 17-01-2019 for approval. The CWC in their observations recommended to prioritize the works and come up with the Part A & B of the project separately in view of the available funds.
“In-principle approval was accorded by the State Administrative Council in June 2019 to the DPR, with the stipulation that while the department may proceed with the implementation of Part-A (estimated at Rs. 1684.6 cr.) utilising the available funds, with respect to the remaining, i.e. Part-B, the department may explore financing options. Thereafter, in July 2022, Administrative Approval of Part A of Phase-II has been accorded for Rs. 1623.43 crores,” he added.
