‎‎‎Srinagar, Sep 29 (KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir government has assessed the restoration cost of damage caused to flood-control and irrigation infrastructure across the Union Territory at over Rs 507 crore, with Jammu Division accounting for nearly 89 per cent of the estimated cost.
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‎According to a reply submitted in the Legislative Assembly, the total estimated cost of restoration of damaged flood-control and irrigation infrastructure stands at Rs 507.47 crore.
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‎The assessment puts the cost in Jammu Division at Rs 449.42 crore, while the corresponding figure for Kashmir Division is Rs 58.05 crore.
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‎The figures were disclosed by the Jal Shakti Department in response to a question by Gulmarg MLA Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah regarding flood management and protection measures in J&K, including the status of the Prime Minister’s Package for Flood Management.
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‎The scale of the damage is also reflected in the wider infrastructure assessment. In Jammu Division, heavy rain and flash floods damaged 1,955 roads, affected 1,238 water-supply schemes and damaged 369 schools and 11 health infrastructure facilities, according to the government’s annexure.
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‎Among the Jammu divisions, Poonch recorded the highest restoration requirement at about Rs 170.82 crore, followed by Rajouri at about Rs 194.43 crore. The assessment for Rajouri includes Rs 151.15 crore under flood-sector restoration and Rs 41.99 crore under the irrigation sector, while Poonch has Rs 151.41 crore under flood-sector restoration and Rs 16.31 crore under irrigation.
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‎In Kashmir Division, the government has assessed restoration costs at about Rs 58.05 crore. The highest figures include Rs 20.52 crore for the Tangmarg division, Rs 15.51 crore for Anantnag and Rs 9.74 crore for Narbal.
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‎On the Prime Minister’s Development Package for flood management, the government said a DPR submitted in 2009-10 for Rs 2,083.90 crore was accepted under the package as part of short-term flood mitigation measures.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe works are being executed in two phases.
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‎Phase-I was approved for Rs 399.29 crore in 2015-16 and has been substantially completed. The government said the carrying capacity of the Jhelum in the Srinagar reach was increased from 31,800 cusecs to 41,000 cusecs, while the capacity at the offtake of the Flood Spill Channel was increased from 4,000 to 8,700 cusecs. Expenditure of Rs 328.02 crore has been incurred on the project so far.
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‎Phase-II (Part A), the Comprehensive Flood Management Plan of River Jhelum and its Tributaries, was approved in March 2022 at an estimated cost of Rs 1,623.43 crore and is currently under implementation.
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‎Under this phase, 31 bank-protection and anti-erosion works costing Rs 276.61 crore are under execution, of which 18 have been completed. Two regulatory gates in Hokersar wetland have also been completed and commissioned at a cost of Rs 28.45 crore.
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‎The department also provided a specific update on Ferozpora Nallah in Gulmarg constituency. It said flood-management works at critical locations along the nallah had been taken up under PMDP Phase-II. The project was sanctioned at Rs 7.53 crore, against which Rs 6.71 crore has been released and fully utilised, and the works have been physically completed.
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‎For longer-term protection of Ferozpora Nallah, the government said a separate DPR titled “Comprehensive Flood Protection Works on Ferozpora Nallah” has been prepared at an estimated cost of Rs 124.81 crore, covering vulnerable spots along the nallah. It is proposed to be taken up under an appropriate scheme, subject to availability of funds.
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‎The government also said a DPR for flood-protection work involving a Gabion Toe Wall upstream and downstream of Kharkhal Bridge and Hardubani Bridge has been prepared at an estimated cost of Rs 4.25 crore and submitted under the SASCI pool of projects.(KNS)