Srinagar, Sept 5 : Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Friday called for immediate measures to address the recurring flood situation in Jammu and Kashmir, citing recent heavy rains and landslides that submerged several areas across the Union Territory.
Mufti said that while Jammu has received significant attention, large parts of Kashmir have also been affected in the past two to three days, with fields and roads flooded. She identified two approaches to address the issue: immediate mitigation measures and long-term interventions to prevent recurring floods.
She referred to environmental factors such as deforestation, mining, and river silting as contributing to the continued risk of floods in the region. “Because of forests being cut, mining activities, and rivers being made hollow, floods will continue to occur,” she said.
Mufti recalled a central government package sanctioned during her tenure as Chief Minister in 2015. She stated that Rs. 1,600 crore from the Prime Minister’s package and Rs. 1,500 crore from the World Bank were allocated for dredging, desilting, and strengthening rivers in Jammu and Kashmir, including the Jhelum, Tawi, Veshav Nala, and Ramyara rivers. She urged the current administration, led by Chief Minister Umar Abdullah, to utilize these funds for immediate river maintenance and bund repairs.
She added that the current government has the responsibility to implement the projects with the allocated funds. “If the funds sanctioned during Mufti Sahib’s tenure had been used, we would not be seeing this situation today. The central government has already sanctioned Rs. 1,600 crore and the World Bank Rs. 1,500 crore. The current government can implement the work without seeking additional funds,” Mufti said.
The PDP leader also called for large-scale river management projects to prevent future flooding. She highlighted the need for repairs to river embankments, flood gauges, and other critical infrastructure to ensure the safety of communities in flood-prone areas.
She also urged immediate action from the Prime Minister’s Office and the state government to execute the previously sanctioned projects and mitigate further flood risks in Jammu and Kashmir.(KNS).
