Ziraat Times Team Report
High Court seeks immediate response from Div Com on industrialisation of Srinagar’s Nowgam flood absorption basin
SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 16: The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has directed the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, to file an immediate response to an affidavit raising critical concerns over the proposed industrialisation of a flood absorption basin in Srinagar, bringing the Government’s decision to open a designated flood management area for industrial development under judicial scrutiny.
The direction was issued by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Dr Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Rajnesh Oswal in Public Interest Litigation (PIL) No. 8/2017, filed by the Environmental Policy Group (EPG), and connected matters.
In its order dated September 15, 2026, the Bench observed that the affidavit dated August 27, 2026, filed on behalf of the petitioner, raised “certain critical issues, including industrialization in the flood zone area”, which required an immediate response from the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir.
“It is directed that the response to the affidavit be filed within a period of one week from today,” the Court ordered. The order came after an impactful presentation made by Advocate Shafqat Nazir, representing the EPG in this case.
The matter has been listed for October 29, 2026.
Master Plan 2035: Flood protection area opened for industrial development?
The Court’s direction comes amid growing concerns over the proposed industrial park in an area of Srinagar identified as part of the city’s flood absorption system under Master Plan 2035.
The proposed development concerns an approximately 11-kilometre corridor extending from Pantha Chowk to Nowgam. The area was designated as part of a flood absorption basin in the Srinagar Master Plan 2035.
The report identified approximately 50 acres at Nowgam as the proposed industrial park site and quoted environmentalists and experts expressing concern over construction in an area intended to absorb excess floodwater.
The proposed conversion of a flood management area into an industrial park has therefore raised questions about the compatibility of the development with the city’s long-term flood protection needs.
EPG challenges Government’s approach
The Environmental Policy Group, which is the petitioner in PIL No. 8/2017, has been pursuing the issue of flood prevention and the protection of Kashmir’s water bodies before the High Court.
The PIL was filed in the aftermath of the devastating September 2014 floods and seeks measures to prevent a recurrence of such flooding in the Kashmir Valley.
The Court has previously emphasised the importance of protecting the River Jhelum, its tributaries, canals, wetlands and other water bodies as part of the region’s flood management system.
In the present proceedings, EPG has raised concerns over the proposed industrialisation of the flood absorption basin, prompting the Bench to seek an immediate response from the Divisional Commissioner.
(The picture used on this report is from a nearby area and not exactly of the Nowgam-Pantha Chowk flood basin)
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