Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government approved nearly Rs 8 crore for strengthening vulnerable stretches of the River Jhelum embankment in Srinagar's Lal Chowk constituency, marking a major upgrade to urban flood safety. Irrigation and Flood Control Department identified eight critical sites prone to erosion, slope failure, and breaching, tendering works from late December 2025 to early January 2026.
Key projects include Rs 1.70 crore slope and toe protection at WSS Tangnar Sempora (RD 58.40 km), Rs 1.60 crore embankment reinforcement near Pantha Chowk Yatri Niwas right bank, and Rs 1.575 crore works at Peerzoo Island (RD 72.186 km). Additional allocations cover Chief Engineer I&FC office left bank (Rs 92 lakh), Golpora (Rs 56 lakh), Batwara (Rs 63 lakh), Purnibal Shivpora (Rs 72 lakh), and sluice gate renovation between Sempora and Sonwar (Rs 20 lakh). These targeted interventions address high risk zones amid dense habitation and historical flood vulnerabilities.
MLA Lal Chowk Ahsan Pardesi hailed the sanction as a shift from reactive repairs to proactive prevention, crediting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the department for swift action. He emphasized enhanced public safety for Lal Chowk and adjoining areas, vulnerable during monsoons when Jhelum swells. Pardesi noted the survey based approach prioritizes urban stretches like Sempora and Batwara, vital for central Srinagar.
This initiative follows 2014 floods that devastated Srinagar, prompting calls for resilient infrastructure. Tenders ensure rapid execution, blending slope stabilisation, toe protection, and channel lining. Officials anticipate completion before next rainy season, bolstering resilience against climate intensified deluges. Community leaders welcomed the move, urging sustained funding for downstream protections. The projects signal governments commitment to sustainable disaster management in flood prone Kashmir Valley.
