J&K disaster preparedness gains ground but gaps remain: Parliamentary Panel

‘Mainstream disaster risk reduction across all sectors’

*Mountainous areas need stronger response networks

Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Aug 11: Jammu and Kashmir has made significant strides in strengthening its disaster management systems, but there is need for greater emphasis on last-mile connectivity, enforcement of land use regulations, integration of disaster risk reduction into all development sectors and strengthening of technological and institutional capacities to enhance the effectiveness of response, relief and rehabilitation across the Union Territory.

This has been observed by a Parliamentary Panel in its report submitted to both House of the Parliament during the ongoing Monsoon Session.

The Committee, while reviewing disaster preparedness in the Union Territory, has warned that J&K's fragile Himalayan ecology, complex terrain and climatic variability make it exceptionally vulnerable to multiple disasters, including floods, landslides, earthquakes, avalanches and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs).

The Panel has identified a distinct regional vulnerability pattern----the Kashmir Valley remains highly prone to floods, the Chenab Valley to landslides, while the Jammu region falls in high seismic zones.

According to the report, J&K has developed a structured disaster management framework, with the Disaster Management Plan first notified in 2017 and subsequently revised in 2023 following the reorganisation of the erstwhile State and its alignment with the National Disaster Management Plan.

Importantly, District Disaster Management Plans have now been prepared for all 20 districts, providing complete institutional coverage across the UT.

The Committee also noted that the institutional mechanism has been strengthened following reorganisation through the reconstitution of the Disaster Management Authority and improved coordination among UT, divisional and district-level authorities.

However, the Panel pointed to initial and continuing challenges relating to clarity of roles, inter-departmental coordination and data sharing, particularly during the transition following reorganisation.

"Disaster risk reduction has begun finding space in infrastructure planning, but the approach remains uneven and project-specific rather than systemic", the Committee said, adding "there is a dire need to integrate disaster risk reduction into all development sectors, rather than treating it as an isolated component of individual projects".

While appreciating J&K's efforts to strengthen early warning mechanisms through the adoption of the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) and integration of alerts from agencies including the India Meteorological Department, Central Water Commission and Directorate General of Risk and Emergency Management, the Parliamentary Panel said, "no doubt platforms such as SACHET and Decision Support Systems, along with Emergency Operation Centres at the UT and district levels, have strengthened real-time coordination and dissemination of alerts but last-mile connectivity remains a challenge in remote and mountainous districts such as Kishtwar, Kupwara and Bandipora due to terrain and communication limitations".

"The urban flood management measures, including de-siltation of drains, strengthening of embankments and flood channel improvements, are being undertaken in cities such as Srinagar and Jammu. However, issues relating to encroachment of floodplains, inadequate drainage infrastructure and enforcement gaps persist", the Committee said.

It has noted that regulatory frameworks for earthquake-resistant construction and floodplain zoning are in place; however, enforcement remains inconsistent, particularly in peri-urban and rural areas. "Similarly, while funds such as SDRF, CAMPA and mitigation programmes are being utilised for resilience-building, still there are challenges in timely fund utilisation, technical capacity and monitoring", the report said.

The Parliamentary Panel has also taken note of measures taken for monitoring glacial lakes and implementing GLOF mitigation framework in view of J&K's mountainous geography and growing concern over climate induced risks.

The panel described the constitution of dedicated committees and the conduct of scientific studies as important steps towards long-term disaster risk reduction.

"While Jammu & Kashmir has made significant progress in strengthening disaster management systems, there is a need for greater emphasis on last-mile connectivity, enforcement of land-use regulations, integration of disaster risk reduction into all development sectors and strengthening of technological and institutional capacities to enhance the effectiveness of response, relief and rehabilitation across the Union Territory", the Committee has concluded.