WAJAHAT SHABIR
SRINAGAR: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs has noted that the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir is highly vulnerable to multiple hazards including floods, landslides, earthquakes, avalanches and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), owing to its fragile Himalayan ecology, complex terrain and climatic variability. The Kashmir Valley is particularly prone to floods, the Chenab Valley to landslides and the Jammu region falls in high seismic zones.
The committee in its report on Disaster Management noted that the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir is highly vulnerable to multiple hazards including floods, landslides, earthquakes, avalanches and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), owing to its fragile Himalayan ecology, complex terrain and climatic variability. The Kashmir Valley is particularly prone to floods, the Chenab Valley to landslides and the Jammu region falls in high seismic zones.
The Committee observed that the Union Territory has developed a structured disaster management framework, with the Disaster Management Plan initially notified in 2017 and subsequently revised in 2023 to align with the UT governance structure and the National Disaster Management Plan. District Disaster Management Plans have been prepared for all 20 districts, ensuring complete coverage.
The institutional mechanisms have been strengthened post-reorganisation through the reconstitution of the Disaster Management Authority and improved coordination between UT, divisional and district-level authorities. However, initial challenges relating to role clarity, inter-departmental coordination and data sharing were observed, particularly in the transition phase.
The disaster risk reduction measures are being increasingly integrated into infrastructure development, including slope stabilisation, drainage systems, embankments and geotechnical interventions in road projects such as the Jammu–Srinagar corridor, as well as in tourism and hydropower projects. However, such integration remains uneven and project specific rather than systemic.
The Committee appreciated the efforts towards strengthening early warning systems through the adoption of Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), integration of alerts from multiple agencies such as IMD, CWC and DGRE, and the use of platforms like SACHET.
Decision Support Systems. Emergency Operation Centres at UT and district levels provide real-time coordination and dissemination of alerts. However, the Committee noted that last-mile connectivity remains a challenge in remote and mountainous districts such as Kishtwar, Kupwara and Bandipora due to terrain and communication limitations. The absence of a fully integrated real-time multi-hazard warning platform and community-based alert systems was also observed.
The response capacity in the UT is supported by SDRF battalions, NDRF deployment and coordination with the Army and other central agencies, particularly for mountain search and rescue, avalanche response and high-altitude logistics. Pre-positioning of resources and seasonal preparedness measures, including winter stocking in snow-bound areas, were also observed to be in place.
The community-based disaster preparedness has been strengthened through programmes such as Aapda Mitra and Aapda Sakhi, along with the constitution of Panchayat and Block-level Disaster Management Committees. Training programmes, mock drills and awareness campaigns have been conducted across districts to enhance local preparedness.
The mitigation measures such as slope stabilization, flood protection works, embankments and soil conservation interventions have been undertaken in vulnerable districts such as Ramban, Baramulla and Uri. Further, monitoring of glacial lakes and implementation of GLOF mitigation frameworks through dedicated committees and scientific studies important steps towards long-term risk reduction.
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 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, challenges in timely fund utilisation, technical capacity and monitoring were observed.
The Committee is of the view that 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.
