Why have successive regimes failed to increase the carrying capacity of river Jhelum, to mitigate flood threats? The problem lies with lack of planning, a disregard towards sustainable development!While Kashmir grapples with flood threats every time it receives incessant rains, government and people engage in blame game over destruction of river Jhelum and encroachment of its floodplains.

Amid the chaos, a new proposal has surfaced up to construct a plug-and-play industrial park in Srinagar’s Nowgam area which forms part of the river’s flood plains. Nowgam Industrial Park will spread across 50 acres with a projected investment of Rs 104.02 crore. The project will be executed under the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana (BHAVYA), a flagship Central scheme aimed at developing next-generation Plug-and-Play Industrial Parks. The Nowgam project will focus on the horticulture value chain, food processing, warehousing, light manufacturing and digital services. A welcome development indeed as it will generate employment avenues and prove boon for the horticulture sector. But authorities must conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment of the project site and determine the impact of the project in case Jhelum swells during floods.

We have to understand the topography of Jhelum and the role of its floodplains. Jhelum, considered to be Kashmir’s lifeline, spans 175 sq kms from south to north Kashmir. Jhelum meanders in a serpentine way from south to north Kashmir and settles in Wullar, Asia’s largest freshwater lake, before pouring into other side of Kashmir, across the Line of Control through the Uri area of north........

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