After failing to meet the March deadline for completion of the first phase of flood mitigation programme, authorities have set October 2019 as the new deadline for the irrigation and flood control department of Jammu and Kashmir government.
Delay in completion of Phase-I can cause inordinate delay ininitiation of Phase-II as latter can only be started after its completion.
During floods, 60,000 cusecs of water traverse from Sangamto Srinagar, much higher than the capacity of Jhelum in Srinagar.
Under phase-I design discharge, out of 60,000 cusecs 25000cusecs would be diverted through flood spill channel (FSC) — off taking it atPadshahibagh. Only 35000 cusecs would flow in Jhelum while it passes throughSrinagar city.
The project is aimed at to regulate Jhelum water level(60,000 cusecs) passing through Srinagar.
“Yes, we have extended deadline up to October 2019. Underphase-I, all work on Jhelum and flood spill channel has been completed.However, the land measuring 44 kanals at Naidkhai is yet to be acquired. Thathas delayed the completion of Phase-I,” chief engineer irrigation and floodcontrol department, Ashok Kumar told Greater Kashmir.
He attributed the delay in acquisition of land at Naidkhaito dispute between locals and authorities.
“Now the dispute has been resolved. Many families have to bedislocated. We have to give them sufficient time for rehabilitation process,”Kumar said.
Any incomplete work, as per experts, under Phase-I on FSCcan prove a disaster as diverting 25000 cusecs through it is the “only presentoption to minimise the flood threat to Srinagar city.”
The other priority works under phase-I comprise of dredgingof Jhelum in Srinagar and Baramulla reach, revetment, toe protection andretaining walls along the river at various spots from Khanabal to Baramulla andvarious works on flood spill channel at the cost of Rs 399 crore.
Some other works under Phase-I are yet to be completed atfew other places as well.
Two vital under-construction bridges at Shariefabad andNadkhai are yet to be completed.
These two bridges, a “top priority under phase-I” oncecompleted, will pave way for dismantling of existing low-lying roads passingthrough the channel, responsible for obstructing passing of flood waterquickly.
“These two bridgesare executed by JKPCC. We have asked them to expedite the process and completeprojects forthwith,” Kumar said.
The recently constructed retaining walls under phase-I atseveral spots at Hamdania Colony Bemina have major gaps left due to presence ofPDD poles and a transformer through which water can enter the locality,rendering the whole work futile.
At Hajibagh, an area near Hokersar, authorities are yet tocomplete the re-sectioning target due to resistance by some locals who demandconstruction of embankment at Hokersar which goes against the Supreme Courtdirections for protection of wetlands.
Authorities have been directed by Supreme Court “not toleave even a small dump in Hokersar” – a wetland.
“All works on flood spill channel from Bemina to Hokarsarhave been completed as per approved plan,” Kumar said.
Admitting hurdles and incompletion of work at Hajibagh underPhase-I, Kumar said all these maters would be sorted out shortly as they havebeen taken up with higher authorities.
The flood spill channel starts from Padshahibagh and flowsinto Wullar lake in Bandipora district. It regulates Jhelum water level whilepassing through Srinagar city.
“We have completed all possible works and are ready to take25000 cusecs quantity,” said Mushtaq Ahmad Malik, assistant executive engineerflood spill channel Shariefabad division.