Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 28: The Government today said that a series of flood-protection and anti-erosion measures are underway across the Valley, particularly along the River Jhelum and its tributaries, with projects worth over Rs. 160 crore currently under execution under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP-II).
The information was provided in a written reply to a question by MLA Sheikh Ahsan Ahmed, who sought details of the Government’s plan to safeguard flood-prone areas such as Batwara, Shivpora, Rajbagh, Basant Bagh, Sonwar, Kursoo Rajbagh, and adjoining localities along the Jhelum.
According to the Jal Shakti Department,several areas including Lasjan, Ganderbal, Soitang, Wanihama, Padshahi Bagh, and Pampore are vulnerable to flooding during high discharge due to their low-lying topography.
Protective works worth Rs.12.30 crore have been executed through the Irrigation & Flood Control (I&FC) Department along the Jhelum’s banks in coordination with district administrations. These include the construction of RCC toe-walls, crate-protection bunds, embankment strengthening, and flood-protection bunds.
Another Rs. 2.49 crore has been allocated for similar works along Jhelum’s tributaries, including Kanikadal, Rambagh, Batmaloo, Panthachowk, and Rajbagh. Embankment and anti-erosion works have also been completed at Lasjan Bridge-Noorbagh, Panthachowk-Barzulla, and Pampore-Kakapora stretches.
The department said that under Phase I of the Comprehensive Flood Management Programme for Kashmir Valley (Post-2014 Floods), works worth Rs. 399.29 crore have been completed, including dredging, embankment strengthening, and spill-channel re-sectioning.
Under Phase II (Part A), projects worth Rs. 343.01 crore are planned, of which 160.23 crore worth of works have already been tendered or allotted.
The Government said all flood-management projects are monitored by the Chief Engineer, I&FC Kashmir, and executed in consultation with district administrations.
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