Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 5: Flagging the absence of a flood mitigation plan, Chairman of the Legislative Committee on Environment M.Y. Tarigami today said the devastating floods of 2014 were a “warning” from which successive Governments in J&K failed to learn any lessons.
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Addressing a press conference here, Tarigami-who also represents Kulgam as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA)-demanded transparency over the funds received from the World Bank and those allocated to departments for the maintenance of rivers and nallahs.
“The floods of 2014 were a warning. Had lessons been drawn from that tragedy, the devastation caused by the 2025 floods could have been minimized,” he said.
“Our track record on environmental impact assessments is abysmal. These are either violated or compromised, and no effective flood mitigation plan has been put in place,” he said.
He alleged that despite repeated disasters, authorities have neither prepared a flood mitigation plan nor reviewed the environmental impact assessments (EIA), which are mandatory before undertaking major projects in ecologically fragile areas.
He also outlined priority measures to prevent future disasters, which include restoring Jhelum’s carrying capacity, which, he said, has halved due to siltation, through an ecologically safe dredging of rivers, tributaries, and basins.
He also stressed on conducting a transparent third-party safety audit of all public infrastructure including dams and bridges.
Tarigami demanded exemplary punishment for land mafia and encroachers as well as scientific zoning of hill areas to regulate construction.
He questioned the utilization of World Bank assistance and sought details of the funds sanctioned for dredging projects.
“The World Bank had granted around Rs 1,500 crore for Jhelum and Tawi recovery projects after the 2014 floods. Where has this money been spent? The details must be made public,” he said.
He further pointed to reports of irregularities regarding dredging of Jhelum and other rivers and tributaries, demanding the details to be made public.
“REACH Dredging Corporation was reportedly allotted works for Wular for Rs 144 crore, Hokarsar for Rs 38 crore, and Jhelum forRs 60 crore. The ACB has registered a case in this connection. What happened to that investigation? These details must be made public,” he said.
Tarigami said this is the third massive flood since 2014, yet the flood mitigation plan remains unimplemented.
“Violations of flood manuals continue in areas already declared flood-prone. Unless accountability is fixed and preventive measures taken, we don’t know what will happen tomorrow,” he warned.
He appealed to the Union Government to immediately set up a dedicated Climate Disaster Relief Fund to provide non-repayable aid to states during emergencies and to extend adequate relief and rehabilitation to all those who have suffered losses in the latest floods.
“We urge the centre to come forward and assist the J&K Government by providing adequate funds for relief and rehabilitation of all those who have suffered huge losses,” he said.
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