Post-floods connectivity

Assessment of damages caused by recent floods and rains to infrastructure in Jammu region is underway. Government agencies are engaged in preparing the damages that have happened to public property. Indeed damages are extensive. We have now with us the preliminary report on the damages to connectivity infrastructure in three districts of Jammu, Samba and Kathua. In the entire three districts road connectivity has suffered serious damages and owing to disruption of road traffic at least 26 villages have been found still marooned and cut off. Government agencies and relief squads have not reached them so far. Though damages in three districts have been focused upon, yet damages in other districts especially Rajouri, Poonch, Ramban, Reasi, Doda and Kishtwar still remain to be computed.
Damages in three districts are mostly in bridges, pulis, culverts or embankments. It appears that the administration has decided to first begin recovery with temporary repairs of roads and bridges to set normal connectivity in motion but at the same time prepare the estimates for permanent repairs. Ultimately everything boils down to availability of funds. District administration and the sector R&B wings have joined hands to provide some funding for temporary repairs of roads and bridges and at the same time they have also submitted the budget estimates for full repairs. In almost all sites where damages have happened, roads and buildings have activated its functionaries and temporary repairs are going on though not fully completed.  In two R&B Divisions of Basohli and Kathua, a total road length of 420 kms was damaged in recent rains and floods out of which 392 kms has been restored temporarily at a cost around Rs 20.87 crore while the permanent cost of this restoration work has been projected as Rs 24.94 crores. Six bridges have been either damaged or washed away in Samba district.  Some small bridges/ pulis/ culverts were also damaged. A total 328 kms roads were damaged in floods of which almost all have been restored temporarily, claim the district authorities.  In Jammu district 586 kms road length stands damaged out of which 545 kms of road length has been temporary restored  by providing motor path. The temporary restoration cost of the damaged works amounting to Rs 43.87 crores and the permanent restoration cost amounting to Rs 105.23 crore have been estimated.
As we find it, it is all right that some temporary repairs have been undertaken to mitigate the difficulties of the people in the area in reaching different parts. But as the matter has been opened, we would strongly suggest that permanent repairing task should be undertaken without loss of more time. We understand that the Central Government has said that funds would not be any constraint in helping the State to recover from the present crisis. Therefore the bridges, culverts and pulis that have been damaged should be reconstructed on permanent basis. In the same way, there is no sense in leaving the roads half repaired or kuchha. Rather these roads should be rebuilt and made pucca with black topping and other requirements. Modern techniques of road building have to be pressed into service and the material that is used has to be tested as fully and extensively as possible so that they can survive the harsh monsoon rains and extreme climatic conditions.
We would advise the Government to expedite assessment of losses in terms of road connectivity in the remaining district of the Jammu region. Reports come in indicating large scale damages have occurred in Poonch and Rajouri districts. If the estimates are that 170 crore rupees would be required to revive the infrastructure, obviously it speaks only for three districts of Jammu. If the damages of other districts are also calculated and taken into account, the estimated cost of repairs and renovations will go much higher than just 170 crore rupees. Piecemeal treatment of damages in Jammu region is not advisable and a comprehensive picture has to be drawn as to what are the damages in regard to connectivity sector, what should be done immediately and what are the long term plans related to overall development of the districts.

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