J-K floods could have been managed in better way: Par Panel

The unprecedented deluge in Jammu and Kashmir last year could have been managed in a "more appropriate" way, if there had been no delay in completing the pending works which have a direct bearing on management of floods in the state, a Parliamentary Panel has said.
A report of the Standing Committee on Water Resources tabled in Parliament today said, the ministry has replied that the disastrous floods of Jammu and Kashmir was due to combination of several factors, the primary being the low carrying capacity of existing Flood Spill Channel (FSC).
With passage of time the carrying capacity of existing FSC diminished from 481.45 cumec to nearly 100 cumec.

"The Committee feel that the floods in Jammu & Kashmir though unprecedented could have been managed in a more appropriate way had there been no delay in completing the pending works which have a direct bearing on management of floods in Jammu and Kashmir," the report said.
The Committee is pained to note that the work undertaken to enhance the capacity under scheme 'Flood threat of river Jhelum - Urgent works' is yet to be completed to maintain the designed capacity of River Jhelum passing near Srinagar city.
Similarly, the live storage capacity of Wular Lake, which has been reduced due to siltation, needs to be enhanced in order to reduce back water effect and absorb more flood water, thereby reducing the impact of flood in its upstream areas.

The Committee, therefore, (is) of the view that all works including flood spill channels regarding flood management in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country should be given top priority and a time-bound programme should be formulated in consultation with the state government to complete the pending works expeditiously.
The Committee also reiterated its recommendation to bring 'water' as a subject under Concurrent List of the Constitution.