Myth goes that our land basically was a water body, where serpents lived. Then we have an extended lore that gives the picture of the development of the land after draining of the water. Kashmir basically was a submerged place and over the span of centuries, it was steadily transformed into a living habitation and thus began a meagre existence.
History bears testimony to the fact that the formation of the Valley, makes it liable to heavy floods. Back and again in the course of centuries the state has experienced drastic floods that were followed by famines and epidemics, reducing the already shrunk population and making the lives of the survivors even more difficult. There is this folklore that goes, ‘it solely has been the water that has destroyed Kashmir. The growth of the population and thus the living patterns went on in a total haphazard manner and thus floods when came, did all the destruction.
The last worst flood that hit the Valley was in 1903, during the rule of Maharaja Pratap Singh. A 48 hour continuous rain brought the melted snow from the mountains in huge quantities and widespread destruction of life and property ensued. It was the then (British) Resident, Sir Luis Dane who decided to undertake the flood prevention and control measures on a long term basis and thus consulted the state engineer Mr. Field and the electrical engineer Major A.de Lotbiniere. The duo made a survey of the state for several months and submitted their report with recommendations.
The foremost recommendation was dredging and for this purpose dredgers were brought from America in 1905-06, along with the other technologies and machinery required. Since these dredgers were electrically run, the powerhouse to support it was made at Mahora (that continues to be an eminent and important powerhouse of the valley) and the dredging operations began in 1908. Initially the operations were mainly around Wullar and by 1912, 6100 acres were reclaimed from around the Wullar. Eventually for the quarter of the century, there were no major floods in the valley, however the state looked at the dredgers as junk and in 1917 were sold, much as the items of junk. A severe flood hit the city of Srinagar in 1928 causing destruction mainly to the standing crop.
At that, the prevention measures that came from the state were the same as building high bunds around the city, At the cost of the rest of the valley, no dredging operations on a serious basis, since then have been in sight. Eventually the beds of the rivers and lakes are heavily silted and the floods became unavoidable.
Not only dredging operations are left unchecked by the traditional bund system itself has not been spared, over the course of time. Sumo stands, Mosques, restaurants, graveyards and so many more structures have been constructed over, near and above the bunds thus hampering the way of the flood channels. Residential colonies and houses have been built in the flood zones that were restricted for any and every sort of construction(s).
Thus the circumstances that badly have caught us, trace their roots in our illogical actions and our problems are the result of our own follies. –Mehak Dhar
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