WE THE PEOPLE
Unplanned Restoration of Flood Spill Channel evokes Reaction, Raises many Eyebrows
Hence Experts suggest Full-width Dredging and Dumping of excavated material in Low-lying areas
By: Mirror News Service
SRINAGAR: We are on record to have attracted attention of the State government on several occasions towards the deterioterated condition of the Flood Spill Channel. The Channel had been constructed to serve as a safety valve to the city of Srinagar. Necessary to state that the city is located on both the banks of river Jehlum with no scope to accommodate discharge of water during floods. Therefore, the channel was dug at Padshahi Bagh to divert excess flood discharge, thereby lessening pressure on the densely populated areas of Srinagar, and finally to join Wullar Lake at Banyari.
It is learnt that I&FC Department had prepared a Project for Rs 1.09 billion and sent the same to the Central Government for approval and Rs 520 million were sanctioned. It consists of two phases. First phase aims at widening the bed to 20 metres.
The first ten kilometers of the channel had reportedly been blocked due to silt and encroachment on the channel space through which the flood-diverted waters were supposed to flow. Besides many plants had also grown in the channel, further obstructing the path of floodwaters.
Pertinent to mention that it was during late seventies that attention was paid towards flood problem and a team of experts requisitioned from the Central Water Commission (CWC) besides the services of an expert from the University of Punjab were hired to formulate a project that could provide measures to control floods in the Valley. Finally, a Master Plan was prepared to suggest measures to counteract any threat to the lives and property of Kashmir population.
But it is unfortunate that no concrete action has been taken since its formulation and thus the threat looms large all along the horizon of the Valley. Moreover, there are huge encroachments on water-bodies, especially the river Jhelum which has further decreased the carrying capacity of flood discharge. There are large lagoons and islands which are full of plantation which contributes largely towards obstruction to the free flow of water. It is, therefore, high time to launch an intensive drive against all obstructions to make way for free flow of water.
Reverting back to the main flood spill channel, it is advisable that the State Government takes steps to remove the debris and silt load that has largely reduced the carrying capacity of the channel. The dredging of the Channel is required to be done for full width, leaving some space for berms, so that it gets activated to carry the designed flood discharge. If the Government faces any financial crunch, then alternatively people are asked to go for excavation of the bed right from its head to tail. However, one precaution is needed that such excavation should be done under technical supervision so that the cross section of the channel is kept and maintained at a uniform level besides embankments are not damaged. It will help general masses to obtain earth free of cost, but it will simultaneously save the State exchequer from incurring huge expenses on dredging of the channel.
Therefore, it would be appropriate that Engineers in-charge of Flood Spill Channel prepare plans and estimates for dredging of the channel for full width to revive it to the level it had been designed and constructed. The excavated material needs to be hauled to low-lying areas so that the possibility of putting the muck back into the channel is ruled out and also depressions filled without incurring any extra cost.The work can be done departmentally if funds are available and can be got done through mass participation if there is paucity of funds. In the later case, technical supervision is needed so that no harm is caused to the State property.
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