Farooq Brazloo
One day of heavy rain shouldn’t spell disaster, yet recurring floods in Jammu and Kashmir reveal a troubling truth: nature isn’t the sole culprit—human mismanagement is. Floods, like earthquakes, are age-old phenomena in this region, but our failure to coexist scientifically with nature amplifies their devastation. Instead of rituals or short-term fixes, science, planning, and discipline offer the only path forward.
The Root Cause: Encroaching on Nature’s Pathways
Rivers, streams, and wetlands once acted as natural buffers, absorbing excess water, recharging groundwater, and maintaining ecological balance. Over decades, however, unchecked encroachment has choked these systems. In Srinagar, the Jhelum River’s floodplains, vital for absorbing overflow, have been overtaken by illegal constructions. A 2014 study by the University of Kashmir noted that 50% of Srinagar’s wetlands, like the Anchar and Hokarsar lakes, have been lost to urbanization since the 1980s. Similarly, in Kupwara, streams like the Kehmil are narrowed by encroaching settlements, reducing their capacity to handle heavy rains. The 2014 floods, which submerged Srinagar for weeks, caused ₹16,000 crore in damages and displaced thousands, largely because blocked waterways left water with nowhere to go.
Social media echoes this frustration. On X, @KashmirVoice posted in August 2025: “Every monsoon, we pray for no floods, but houses built on Jhelum’s banks guarantee disaster. Why no action on encroachments?” Another user, @ValleyCitizen, shared: “Baramulla’s streams are now drains, choked with illegal shops. Floods aren’t nature’s fault—they’re ours.” These sentiments highlight a stark reality: weak enforcement and public complicity have turned natural water bodies into ticking time bombs. When rivers like the Tawi in Jammu or the Lidder in Pahalgam are constricted by buildings, water invades homes and fields, as seen in the 2023 Pahalgam flash floods that damaged 200 homes.
Who’s Responsible?
The blame is shared. Successive administrations have failed to enforce land-use laws. The Jammu and Kashmir Flood Control Department’s 2022 report admitted that 30% of the Jhelum’s flood basin remains encroached, despite court orders for clearance. Land mafias, often in collusion with local officials, have grabbed public lands, as evidenced by recent Enforcement Directorate raids in Jammu, recovering 5,000 kanals of illegally occupied land in Bhalwal. Yet, citizens aren’t blameless. Many knowingly build or buy properties on floodplains, lured by low costs or lax oversight. A 2025 X post by @SrinagarTruth lamented: “We blame the govt, but we keep buying plots on wetlands. When floods hit, we cry victim.”
What Must Be Done?
Decisive action is non-negotiable. The government must:
1. Clear Encroachments Ruthlessly: Bulldoze illegal structures along riverbanks and wetlands, as seen in Assam’s 2023 drive that reclaimed 1,200 hectares of Kaziranga’s water channels, reducing flood risks. In Jammu and Kashmir, the 2024 anti-encroachment drive in Anantnag cleared 500 kanals along the Lidder, but progress remains slow. Scaling this up, with judicial oversight, is critical.
2. Enforce Stringent Laws: Impose heavy fines and jail terms for future encroachments, mirroring Gujarat’s 2022 Riverfront Protection Act, which curbed illegal constructions along the Sabarmati. Regular audits of land records, using GIS mapping as piloted in Baramulla, can prevent violations.
3. Restore Natural Systems: Dredge and widen rivers like the Jhelum, where silt accumulation has reduced depth by 40% since 1990 (per JK Flood Control data). Revive wetlands like Hokarsar, which once held 10 million cubic meters of water but now barely manages 4 million. Tamil Nadu’s restoration of 50 wetlands since 2020 offers a blueprint, cutting Chennai’s flood risks by 30%.
Citizens must also act responsibly. Community campaigns, like those in Poonch where locals crowdfunded a sports complex, show collective will can drive change. On X, @GreenKashmir urged: “Support wetland restoration, not new villas. Our kids deserve flood-free homes.” Public pressure can push for transparent land-use policies and accountability.
The Way Forward
Without action, floods will remain a recurring nightmare. The 2014 Srinagar floods displaced 1.5 lakh people; 2023’s flash floods in Ganderbal ruined 300 hectares of crops. Future generations shouldn’t inherit this fear. Restoring rivers, streams, and wetlands to their natural roles, as seen in Kerala’s post-2018 flood revival of the Meenachil River, can make floods manageable cycles, not catastrophes. Jammu and Kashmir needs a unified effort: strict enforcement, scientific planning, and a societal shift to respect nature. Only then can we live safely with our rivers, not in fear of them.
