JAMMU: The government has stated that flood management measures under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) for Kashmir are progressing, with Phase-I of the project nearing completion and Phase-II (Part-A) underway. The projects, aimed at mitigating the recurrent flood threat posed by the Jhelum River and its tributaries, were sanctioned in the wake of the devastating 2014 floods, with a total allocation of Rs 2083 crore.
The government confirmed that since 1800, the Jhelum basin has witnessed 34 notable floods, occurring roughly every six years. The catastrophic floods of 1902, 1959, and 2014 remain some of the most extreme events recorded. In response, two flood management phases were planned under PMDP, with Rs 399.29 crore sanctioned for Phase-I in 2015-16 and Rs 1623.43 crore for Phase-II (Part-A) in 2022.
Phase-I, which aimed to enhance the carrying capacity of the Jhelum River from 31,800 cusecs to 41,000 cusecs in the Srinagar stretch, is now nearing completion. A total of Rs 399.29 crore was allocated for this phase, with Rs 327.04 crore already spent. The major expenditures include Rs 103.07 crore for land acquisition, Rs 112.63 crore for earthwork and dredging, Rs 35.24 crore for revetment, launching apron, and stone pitching, and Rs 53.64 crore for stone gabion protection works. An amount of Rs 8.68 crore was allocated for bridge and truss construction, Rs 35.24 crore for retaining and toe walls, Rs 5.18 crore for preliminary works, while Rs 7.60 crore was utilised for miscellaneous expenditures.
For Phase-II (Part-A), which received approval in March 2022, the objective is to mitigate the flood threat of 60,000 cusecs. The total estimated cost for this phase is Rs 1623.43 crore, with Rs 1142.93 crore already spent. The project includes 30 bank protection works, of which 29 have been tendered and 16 completed, achieving 80 per cent progress. Entry and exit gates at Hokersar wetland, completed at a cost of Rs 28.45 crore, have played a crucial role in rejuvenating the wetland by maintaining pondage levels during lean seasons.
Despite significant progress, certain key flood mitigation works, including the widening of the Outfall Channel (OFC) and re-sectioning of the Flood Spill Channel (FSC), have yet to commence. Discrepancies in reports from expert agencies have led to delays, with the Central Water Commission (CWC) report being received in December 2024 and currently under examination.
Additionally, the State Administrative Council had, in June 2019, granted in-principle approval for a broader flood management project estimated at Rs 5411.54 crore. The Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD&GR) is reviewing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) submitted in January 2019, with an emphasis on prioritising critical components.
As flood risks continue to pose a major threat to Kashmir, particularly in the wake of past disasters, the timely execution of these projects remains crucial for long-term flood resilience in the valley.
