KCCI mourns Jammu flood victims, seeks audit of Srinagar drainage infrastructure

Ziraat Times News Desk

Srinagar, Jul 20: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) on Monday expressed deep grief over the loss of lives in the flash floods and landslides that struck parts of Jammu region, particularly Rajouri and Poonch districts, and called for urgent measures to strengthen disaster resilience and urban drainage infrastructure across Jammu & Kashmir.

In a statement, the Chamber conveyed its condolences to the families of the 11 people who lost their lives in the calamity and expressed solidarity with those affected by the destruction of property and livelihoods.

KCCI said the tragedy underscored the growing frequency of extreme weather events and highlighted the need for disaster-resilient infrastructure, effective early warning systems and comprehensive mitigation measures in vulnerable regions of the Union Territory.

While Srinagar was spared flooding, the Chamber voiced concern over widespread waterlogging across several parts of the city following recent heavy rainfall. It said commercial markets and business hubs remained submerged under stagnant rainwater for hours, disrupting trade and causing significant losses to shopkeepers and traders.

According to the Chamber, many businesses suffered damage to merchandise, furniture, electrical installations and other assets after rainwater entered commercial establishments. It added that prolonged waterlogging also disrupted transportation and reduced customer footfall, adversely affecting economic activity.

KCCI observed that despite substantial investments under the Smart City programme and other urban development initiatives, recurring waterlogging in Srinagar pointed to serious shortcomings in the planning, design and execution of the city’s storm-water drainage network.

The Chamber stressed that the issue required permanent engineering solutions rather than temporary interventions. It called for scientific evaluation of drainage capacity, hydraulic flow, road gradients, outfall connectivity, pumping systems and natural drainage channels to ensure effective performance during periods of intense rainfall.

Urging the government, Srinagar Smart City Limited, Srinagar Municipal Corporation and other concerned agencies to act immediately, KCCI sought a comprehensive technical and engineering audit of the city’s storm-water drainage infrastructure. The proposed audit, it said, should identify design flaws, inadequate drainage capacity, blocked channels and other structural deficiencies, followed by a time-bound programme for corrective action.

The Chamber also recommended the formulation of an integrated urban water management strategy based on scientific hydrological studies, restoration of natural watercourses, regular desilting of drains, installation of modern pumping infrastructure where required, and periodic maintenance before every monsoon season.

Additionally, KCCI called on the administration to assess losses suffered by traders due to rain-induced waterlogging and consider relief measures for affected businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises.

Emphasising the importance of climate resilience in future infrastructure planning, the Chamber said urban development projects should focus not only on aesthetics but also on robust engineering solutions capable of safeguarding lives, livelihoods and economic activity.

It further urged the government to refrain from converting open spaces, green belts, playgrounds and other permeable land into built-up infrastructure, arguing that such areas play a critical role in absorbing rainwater and reducing surface runoff. The Chamber also stressed the need to protect and restore wetlands, flood basins, lakes and their natural channels, warning that encroachments and unscientific alterations had weakened Kashmir’s natural flood-buffering systems and increased the city’s vulnerability to extreme weather events.

KCCI said future urban planning must integrate sound engineering practices with environmental conservation to build a resilient and sustainable urban landscape.