Authorities on Sunday started repairing fresh cracks along the Jhelum embankments in Shivpora on a war footing.
The development came after divisional administration ofKashmir took cognizance of a report in Greater Kashmir and the dangerous cracksand directed authorities to repair the embankment.
The embankment of Jhelum at Yatto Mohalla in Shivpora areahas developed fresh cracks exposing Srinagar to an increased risk of flooding,and causing panic in the adjacent areas as people fear floods with rainy seasonapproaching.
Residents in the area alleged that the damaged embankmentwas further sinking due to “official apathy.”
On Sunday, a team of official and experts visited the spotto take the assessment of damage.
“We have started repairing work and it will becompleted by Tuesday evening (16 April),” said Mukhtar Ahmad Wani,assistant executive engineer, irrigation and flood control department,sub-division Sonwar.
The weak embankments have raised questions over the stategovernment’s flood mitigation measures.
Signifying failure of authorities to undertake floodprevention measures, breach in embankments occurred several times during lastthree years.
Residents of Shivpora said earlier breach in the bund wascaused near a temple at the same spot wherefrom 2014 flood waters had enteredthe area.
However, the alert residents had informed flood controldepartment which plugged the breach.
A large stretch of embankment of river Jhelum crumbed nearLasjan on 24 January 2018.
Luckily, the level of water at that time was low. On 2 July 2018, breaches in embankments atShivpora area were caused at same spots where from Jhelum water had entered thelocality during the devastating floods in 2014, signifying failure ofauthorities to undertake flood prevention measures.
On September 7, 2014, Jhelum crossed record 23-feet at RamMunshi Bagh gauge submerging localities on both sides of the river includingcity’s commercial hub Lal Chowk and its adjoining areas.
Residents demand that a toe-wall needs to be constructedfrom Shivpora temple to Athwajan to prevent breach of embankments in case waterlevel rises in Jhelum.
They fear that breaches at Batwara and other adjacent placeshave been repaired without applying any technical expertise and demand an auditof the works.
In September 2014, Jhelum water had entered Rajbagh,Chattabal, Parimpora and other areas by overflowing the banks.
After the flood waters receded, an analysis was done todetermine how flood water entered the city areas. Low height of banks was foundas one reason. Later it was decided to raise the level of embankments forfuture protection.