Srinagar, July 21: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) has welcomed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s assurance that traders whose shops, business establishments and goods were damaged during the recent waterlogging in Srinagar will be adequately compensated.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Chamber said the announcement offers much-needed relief to the trading community, which suffered significant losses after several commercial areas were inundated following a few hours of heavy rainfall.
KCCI also welcomed the Chief Minister’s decision to subject Smart City projects to a third-party audit, describing it as a long-standing demand of the business community. The Chamber said it had consistently advocated for an independent technical assessment of the drainage and stormwater network, arguing that repeated incidents of waterlogging have exposed serious deficiencies in the planning, design and execution of urban drainage infrastructure.
The Chamber, however, stressed that the proposed audit should not be limited to Smart City projects alone. It urged the government to undertake a comprehensive technical review of the entire drainage network across Srinagar and other urban centres in Kashmir.
According to KCCI, a scientific assessment is needed to identify gaps in the existing infrastructure and formulate a comprehensive upgradation plan capable of handling increasingly intense rainfall events linked to changing weather patterns.
The Chamber also called for all major infrastructure and urban development projects to be preceded by detailed Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and the necessary environmental clearances. It said development initiatives must be aligned with the region’s natural drainage systems, rivers, wetlands and other ecological assets rather than disrupting them.
Highlighting the growing impact of climate change in Jammu & Kashmir, KCCI noted that the increasing frequency of flash floods, urban flooding and extreme weather events underscores the need for climate-resilient planning, scientific hydrological studies and sustainable urban development practices.
The Chamber further urged the government to protect green belts, wetlands, floodplains, playgrounds and other natural water absorption zones from encroachment and unplanned construction. These areas, it said, play a critical role in absorbing excess rainwater, recharging groundwater and reducing the risk of urban flooding.
Expressing confidence in the proposed third-party audit, KCCI said the exercise should help identify deficiencies, ensure accountability where required and pave the way for durable, scientific and environmentally sustainable solutions to recurring waterlogging in Srinagar and other urban centres.
The Chamber said effective corrective measures are essential not only for protecting urban infrastructure but also for safeguarding trade, commerce and livelihoods from the adverse impacts of future flooding events.
