Launch forceful drive against illegal structures along water bodies: CoE

*House Panel for blue print to check future floods

Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, June 26: Observing that Irrigation and Flood Control Department has yet not prepared any blue print to prevent future floods, a committee of 13 Legislators of Jammu and Kashmir has asked the Government to launch forceful drive against the illegal structures along all the water bodies in the length and breadth of the State so that September 2014 like situation doesn’t recur.
The Committee on Estimates headed by People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA, Javid Hassan Beigh and comprising of 10 Members of Legislative Assembly and two of Legislative Council in its 45th report submitted to the Legislature few days back has observed that Irrigation and Flood Control Department has yet not prepared any blue print to ensure that September 2014 like situation doesn’t recur in any part of Jammu and Kashmir.
Though the department claims that it was working on both short and long term strategies to combat future floods but the exercise has yet not been completed till date despite lapse of more than one and half year since the last devastating floods.
The Government has only laid focus on Jhelum River by launching Phase-I of Flood Management Programme and removal of illegal constructions, similar attention has yet not been paid towards other rivers and water bodies, which too had contributed in destruction during September 2014.
“Illegal residential colonies that have come up on the wet lands and river banks over the decades are aggravating the chances of floods not only in Srinagar city but in other parts of the State also”, the Committee of Estimates said, adding “unless steps to check illegal constructions and encroachments are initiated the situation will not improve up to the desired level and threat of floods will continue to loom large in many parts of the State”.
It is pertinent to mention here that in almost all the meetings of the Committee with the concerned officers it was fairly admitted that unauthorized constructions over river banks and flood channels played a vital role in September 2014 floods subjecting the people to enormous miseries.
The Committee has also expressed grave concern over the blocking of flood channels of River Tawi due to construction of Golf Course Club near Sidhra Byepass in Jammu outskirts, adding “this has narrowed the width of Tawi River affecting its original flow during floods. This is also required to be looked into with all seriousness and corrective measures taken so that damages during floods in River Tawi are checked”.
Stressing the need to prepare blueprint to prevent future floods, the committee of 13 Legislators has asked the department to conduct a comprehensive study by the team of experts and prepare a blue print to avoid such inevitable incidents in future. Moreover, the department has been asked to carry out renovation, reconstruction and filling work of all wetlands, water bodies and flood spill channels.
“The department should remove all illegal structures along the water bodies with the assistance of police under the directions of Deputy Commissioner concerned and stern action should be taken against the erring persons”, the Committee said, adding “the Government should in view of topography and requirement/ problems of people direct the Irrigation and Flood Control Department to prepare a blueprint for completion of all projects/schemes of major rivers and water bodies in the State”.
The Committee has stressed the need to ensure proper utilization of funds provided by the Central and State Governments for repairing/renovation of the damaged infrastructure. It has also suggested constitution of a committee to monitor the ongoing works and prepare a comprehensive report in this regard.
The House Panel has also taken serious note of non-completion of irrigation schemes in Udhampur district, which were to be completed in the year 2003-04. It has also expressed concern over Kandi Canal Bhaderwah, which was sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 53.70 crore in 2006-07 but has not been completed till date.
“The project was not feasible for the area of rocky/hilly terrain of the erstwhile Doda district”, the Committee said, adding “only 500 meters of canal has been completed as on date”.
It has suggested the Irrigation and Flood Control Department to send its technical team to review this project for preparation of fresh Detailed Project Report for its approval from the Government.
Stressing that Department of Irrigation and Flood Control should conduct afresh survey in Udhampur district particularly in Ramnagar constituency for the up-gradation of old irrigation schemes, the Committee on Estimates has asked the department to take in hand de-silting of rivers, canals and khuls every year before pre-monsoon season so that farmers may not face problems on this account.

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