Kashmir’s Rs 1623 crore flood plan hits roadblock

Srinagar, Sep 8: Despite recurrent flood threats in Kashmir, two critical components of the Rs 1623 crore comprehensive flood management plan for Jhelum River remain untouched. The delay in executing work on these components arises from additional financial implications triggered by alterations recommended by the Central Water Commission (CWC), following conflicting assessments in two separate studies regarding their efficacy. As a result, the ambitious project—meant to safeguard lives and infrastructure from future flood disasters—finds itself mired in financial and technical gridlock.
Details reveal that the Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation approved Phase-II (Part A) of the flood management project for the Jhelum River and its tributaries in March 2022.
The Union Ministry recommended the project for inclusion under the Flood Management Project (FMP) component of the Flood Management Project & Border Areas Programme (FMPBAP) for the period 2021–26, with 90 percent central funding and 10 percent Union Territory funding.
After Union Government’s approval, the administrative council gave its go-ahead to the project in July 2022.
Two key components—resectioning of the Flood Spill Channel (FSC) and its linked components, and widening of the Outfall Channel (OFC)—were conceived as part of the project, with a combined financial implication of up to Rs 1280 crore.
However, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department Kashmir did not initiate work due to differences in findings between two studies conducted by the Pune-based Central Water & Power Research Station (CWPRS) and EPTISA, a multinational engineering company specializing in engineering, consultancy, information technology, and institutional development.
Given divergences, the matter was referred to the CWC, which nominated the Member (River Management) as the nodal officer to recommend a way forward.
After holding 11 meetings with various stakeholders, the CWC forwarded its recommendations to the J&K government on December 23, 2024.
Officials said that the alterations recommended by the CWC would have an additional financial implication of Rs 300 crore. “We need to get approval for additional funding before executing work on these two components,” an official said.
He added that around 20 bridges crossing the Flood Spill Channel (FSC) may have their foundations exposed due to excavation up to 2 meters deep. “Extra cost will be required to strengthen their foundations,” he said.
When contacted, Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Javed Rana said they are examining the project.
He said that nothing was done in the past 11 years for prevention of floods in Kashmir. (KNO)