Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Sept 5: Srinagar city that was submerged in last year’s floods is on the brink of another disaster as the flood channel has been choked due to siltation of Hokersar wetland over the decades and Government has failed to take measures to save Srinagar city from September 2014 like floods even after one year has passed.
The officials say that 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. But experts suggest that the carrying capacity is much lesser than what officials’ project as last year’s floods have caused massive siltation.
The main reservoir of the flood channel, the Hokersar wetland, was spread to over 16 square kilometers and has over the decades shrunk to around 4 kilometers due to encroachments and siltation caused by the flood channel.
It is not only the area but the depth of the wetland has also decreased alarmingly from 13 to 14 feet to just 2-3 feet. The flood water retention of the wetland has decreased by 90 percent over the decades.
In order to overcome the choking of the flood channel due to massive siltation of Hokersar, the Flood Control Department started work on 7 kilometer flood channel through the wetland in 2008 so as to save the water body from further siltation and flooding the Srinagar city.
However, the row over the construction of flood channel through Hokersar between Flood Control and Irrigation Department and Wildlife led to more siltation which led to devastation of the Srinagar city in September 2014 floods.
The funds that were meant for the construction of the flood channel were diverted to Wullar Conservation project 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.
Minister for Flood Control and Irrigation, Sukhnandhan Kumar, told Excelsior that Government is pursuing the case of the flood channel and once it is cleared, work of the project will be taken up.
Sources said that Wild Life Department has paid Rs 40 lakh to Mechanical division for the purchase of dredger for the Hokersar wetland but so far the machine has not been purchased. “This speaks volumes about the non-seriousness of Governments’ to save the water body and prevent floods”, they said.
Last year due to choking of Hokersar, there was back flow of water in the flood spill channel in Srinagar during last year’s floods as Hokersar has lost the water retention capacity. Even this year in April, there was back flow of water in flood channel.
Authorities say that the back flow has been witnessed 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.
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