The flood scare once again created panic among the people, who have already faced a catastrophe in the year 2014 when nearly 300 people lost their lives and the properties worth crores of rupees got damaged.
The memories of deluge that hit Kashmir eight years back are still fresh for the people here and continue to haunt them from time to time, especially whenever it rains as the delay in execution of flood management plan is leading to the frequent rise in water level in river Jhelum, rivulets and other tributaries.
The increase in the water level in Jhelum and other water bodies has crossed the alert as well as the danger mark multiple times, which points towards the non-execution of flood management plan on the ground that was approved with an aim to increase the capacity of water bodies as well as additional supplementary flood spill channels, creation of storage facilities on tributaries of Jhelum, flood plain zoning and other things.
The much-hyped comprehensive plan for flood management works on river Jhelum at an estimated cost of nearly Rs 400 crores was prepared by the government in March 2015, which was set to be completed in two phases. However, it took nearly five years to complete the phase-I, but the plan continued to remain in limbo as the second phase has not been started yet given the delay in release of funds from the central government.
The delay in completion of flood management plan, being executed under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP), is raising questions as despite elapsing more than seven years, the people at the helm of affairs have failed to deliver what has been promised with already perturbed people.
The works under second phase are scheduled to be completed in two parts at an estimated cost of Rs 5253.43 crore, but the inordinate delay in releasing the funds is pushing the people to the wall.
The situation that arises two days back due to the four-day intermittent rainfall is ample proof that whatever the measures have been taken so far, has not served the cause and the properties as well as the lives of people are simultaneously at risk.
The administration at this juncture has to play its role to ensure early completion of the mandatory flood management plan, which would help in bringing respite to the people and also put an end to the frequent flood scares that lead to the precarious situation.
