Jammu and Kashmir set to get its first modern Flood forecasting System

NEW DELHI: In the wake of the unprecedented floods which caused havoc last year in Jammu and Kashmir, the state is all set to get its first, modern Flood Forecasting System with the Central Water Commission (CWC) planning to set up such facilities at about 25 sites in Kashmir Valley.

"The modern Flood Forecasting System would be set up in the state as part of the 12th Five-Year Plan (before 2017)," top Water Resources Ministry sources told PTI while adding that they are looking to establish such stations at 25 sites in the Valley.

Absence of modern flood forecasting systems proved to be a drawback for Jammu and Kashmir government when the state was hit by floods in September of last year, which claimed 283 lives and caused widespread damage to infrastructure.

Flood Forecasting System would help in assessing floods as river water levels would be measured on an hourly basis, unlike at Hydrological Observation Stations where the levels are calculated during different intervals, ranging from once to three times everyday, the sources added.

A parliamentary panel had also recommended setting up of flood forecasting networks in Jammu and Kashmir.

In its report presented in Parliament a month back, the Standing Committee on Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation said that like in the rest of the country, flood forecasting networks should also be set up in J-K.

The report further noted that CWC was operating 11 hydrological observation sites in Chenab and five sites in Jhelum to collect data for water resources planning purposes, but it was not maintaining flood forecasting sites in J-K.

Meanwhile, CWC has suggested various measures in a study initiated by it after the J-K government last year wrote to the Prime Minister's Office requesting it to go into the reasons behind the massive floods and also suggest means for preventing any recurrence of the phenomenon.