Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Apr 4: The back flow of flood spill channel in Srinagar in last week’s flooding, for the first time in the history, is an alarm which the lack of flood channel between Sharifabad and Narbal has given to the authorities.
The water in the flood channel was flowing in reverse direction in the first two days of initial flooding in Srinagar last week as the Hokersar has lost the flood water carrying capacity over the years by 5 times.
The existing flood channel in Srinagar built following the floods of 1903 was designed to handle about 481 cumec of water, but can now carry only about 100 cumec.
Authorities say that the back flow has taken place for the first time in the history since its construction. They say if the immediate measures are not taken the Srinagar city faces threat of September 2014 kind of flooding if it rains heavily in summer.
The water at Sharifabad where the flood channel enters the Hokersar is overflowing over the road by several feet since initial flooding and is entering Rakhe Gund Shah behind SKIMS Medical College Srinagar. Last year the water near Sharifabad entered Rakhe Gund Shah and caused much devastation to Srinagar city on Northern side.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Lone said that they have taken this issue seriously and a meeting of the Irrigation and Flood Control and other departments is being held in next week. He said that administration will take all necessary measures to resolve the issue.
It may be mentioned here that the tussle between Irrigation and Flood Control Department and Wild Life Department over the construction of flood channel in Hokersar area led to more silitation and the flood threat.
The funds that were meant for the construction of the flood channel were diverted to Wullar Conservation project four years ago after a court case between the two departments.
Experts say that flood threat due to massive siltation of the wetland in September-2014 floods has led to increased threat in future. “If the flood channel is not constructed immediately and drudging of the wetland is not carried out, Srinagar city faces increased flood threat”, they say.
The Government over the years has failed to pursue the case of construction of flood channel through Hokersar with the National Board for Wildlife of Ministry of Environment and Forests. However, it was finally cleared in normal course and now the file is with the Central Empowered Committee of Supreme Court where it has to be pursued on priority.
A recent survey conducted by a private agency for Government after last year’s floods has shown that at places four meters of siltation taken place in Hokersar wetland.
The Hokersar wetland that was spread to over 16 square kilometers has over the decades shrunk to over 4 kilometers. A portion of it has been encroached and rest has been converted to landmass due to massive siltation caused by the flood channel.
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