FIRDOUS AHMAD
SRINAGAR, Sep 5: Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly’s Committee on Environment, M.Y. Tarigami, has blamed government inaction and negligence for the devastation caused by the recent floods in the Union Territory. He said that if lessons had been drawn from the 2014 tragedy, the scale of the present disaster could have been greatly minimised.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Tarigami described the current spell of floods as “extremely devastating” in terms of both human lives and property losses. He added that despite the horrifying experience of 2014, successive governments failed to prepare for such calamities.
“The fact remains that our track record on conducting Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)—a prerequisite before any major project is undertaken—is abysmally poor. Unfortunately, in most cases, EIA is either violated or compromised,” he remarked.
The Committee expressed concern that the Union Government has yet to establish a dedicated Climate Disaster Relief Fund to provide non-repayment aid to states during emergencies and to ensure sustained support in the aftermath of disasters.
Key Areas Needing Immediate Action
The panel underscored four priority measures:
1. Restoration of Jhelum’s Capacity: The river’s carrying capacity of 63,000 cusecs in 1962 has halved due to siltation. Large-scale ecological dredging of the Jhelum and its tributaries is vital to prevent future floods across Kashmir, Chenab, and Pir Panjal valleys.
2. Independent Safety Audit: A transparent, third-party safety audit of dams, bridges, and all public infrastructure to fix culpability.
3. Exemplary Punishment: Land mafia and encroachers, termed as “enemies of the people and of the environment,” must face strict action.
4. Scientific Zoning: Demarcation of hill areas into construction zones, restricting reckless and unplanned building activity.
Flood Mitigation Plan “Still Missing”
Despite three major floods since 2014, Tarigami said the Flood Mitigation Plan has largely remained on paper. He highlighted massive violations of flood manuals, even in designated flood-prone zones.
The Committee further revealed that while the World Bank sanctioned Rs. 1,500 crore for Jhelum and Tawi Recovery Projects post-2014 floods, little is known about how the money was spent. It demanded that details of all expenditures be made public.
Additionally, dredging contracts worth Rs. 144 crore for Wullar Lake, Rs. 38 crore for Hokarsar, and Rs. 60 crore for Jhelum were allotted to REACH Dredging Corporation. However, the Committee alleged negligible progress and called for a thorough probe. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has already registered FIRs in this regard.
Appeal for Relief and Rehabilitation
Tarigami urged the Government of India to extend adequate financial support for relief and rehabilitation of flood-affected families in Jammu and Kashmir.
“This is not just a tragedy for J&K but also a warning for the entire Himalayan belt. Unless urgent corrective steps are taken, future devastations could be even worse,” he cautioned.
