The $250 mn World Bank aid for reviving flood ravage economy of Jammu and Kashmir appears to be a positive development but with lot of pit falls. The continuous spell of rains in September 2014 caused Jhelum, Chenab and Tawi Rivers, including their tributaries and many other streams, to flow above the danger mark. Due to the unprecedented heavy rainfall, the catchment areas, particularly the low-lying ones, were flooded for more than two weeks. The Jhelum breached its banks at several places and over a million families were affected, directly or indirectly, and some 300 lives were lost. More than 6,48,000 hectares of agricultural and horticultural land was affected, causing huge loss to crops, plantations and animals. The Jhelum and Tawi Flood Recovery Project will focus on 20 flood-affected districts — Anantnag, Baramula, Budgam, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian, Srinagar, Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Poonch, Rajauri and Udhampur. It looks whatever the central assistance was released for revival and rehabilitation purposes has not been able to meet the financial needs so the Word Bank assistance. It is surprising that the damages after two years still remain a political weapon both for ruling as well as opposition parties. According to Raj Kumar, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, the project will focus on restoring critical infrastructure disrupted by the floods using international best practice. The infrastructure will be designed to improve resilience to future flooding and landslide as well as seismic risk. Besides, the project will also strengthen and reinforce existing weak and vulnerable flood control infrastructure. Investments will primarily include rehabilitation and renovation of storm water pumping stations in several areas. Apart from reconstruction, the project will focus on disaster risk mitigation. This also reflects on the capabilities of the State agencies to handle such exigencies and the capacity to rebuild them on their own.
