The Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri today convened a meeting to take holistic review of flood mitigation plan and SOP for management of breach at Kandizal segment of river Jhelum to save city from massive deluge in future.
The meeting was attended by CEO, SSCL; Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar, Budgam and Pulwama; Directors of School Education department and RDD; Chief Engineers of I&FC, KPDCL, PHE, UEED and MED; MD SRTC, Director Indian Meteorological Department; Nodal Officer SEOC, Kashmir; besides Core Commander BB Cant; SSPs, Officers of NDRF, SDRF, Civil Defense, Fire & Emergency etc.
Addressing the meeting, Div Com directed for establishment of a sophisticated decision making support system to ensure flow of information through proper communication system to stakeholders at the time of flood exigency. While underscoring the importance of Kandizal breach to save inundation of urban areas, Div Com stressed on framing SOPs to take the final call when required.
He added that the breach should be the ultimate attempt and the last resort to avert danger to the urban areas of the Srinagar City, wherein the decision should be taken in context to the ground situations. He said the objective of the breach is to save the more vital infrastructure and areas by inundation of less vital ones.
To tackle the flood situation, he emphasized on building a mechanism for making men and material available to saturate the requirement when need arises. He also directed for the establishment of an emergency helpline to respond to the crisis during floods.
Besides, he asked for updation of resources on India Disaster Resource Network (IDRN), identification of relief centers and usage of satellite phones. Earlier, CE, I&FC gave a detailed presentation on Kandizal breach, impact of breach, parameters to monitor river guage, previous data and changes in flood plains over years.
CE stated that the location where the river generally breaches is located near village Kandizal in District Pulwama. The meeting was informed that the area of Kandizal over the past few decades has seen significant changes in the land use and land cover by way of huge urbanization and significant reduction in the once vast and open lands.
The expansion of road networks, particularly the Srinagar Jammu Expressway and the Railway Line and the huge infrastructure which has come up along the Expressway have also significantly contributed to the land change pattern.