Expert Panel to submit report on Jhelum widening, encroachment removal next month
Focus on restoring river’s lost width in Srinagar
By: Our Special Correspondent
Srinagar: Srinagar’s lifeline, the Jhelum, has shrunk alarmingly—its width reduced to barely 60 metres at several points in the city, compared to the far broader river remembered by locals just a few decades ago. An expert panel tasked with addressing this crisis is set to submit its report on widening and removal of encroachments by next month, officials told Kashmir Vision.
The committee, which includes river engineers, planners, and environmentalists, has already identified a 7-kilometre stretch between DC office and Chattabal Veer as the most encroached section, where illegal structures and landfill have narrowed the channel.
“The river has lost its breathing space. What used to be a wide, graceful waterway is now squeezed into a corridor of concrete and debris,” a senior Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) official said. “Our immediate focus is regaining its width in Srinagar, because that is critical to flood safety and restoring heritage.”
Locals who have lived by the Jhelum for generations say they have witnessed its steady suffocation. “As children, we saw boats crossing freely, and the riverbanks were open and green,” recalled Ghulam Nabi, a 70-year-old resident of Habba Kadal. “Now, shops and houses have crept into the river itself. During rains, we live in constant fear.”
A shopkeeper at Rajbagh, preferring anonymity, said the narrowing river was a “disaster in the making.” “Everyone knows what happened in 2014. If the Jhelum is not widened, the next flood will be even worse. The government must act, even if it means tough decisions.”
Experts argue that Srinagar’s vulnerability lies in ignoring the river’s natural course. “From Rajbagh to Chattabal, the Jhelum has been reduced by nearly half of its original width. Unless this is reversed, the city will always remain at risk,” said Dr. Tariq Ahmad, an environmental scientist.
The report—expected by late October—will recommend demolition of illegal structures, dredging, and phased rehabilitation for affected households. Officials, however, stress that the process will have to be “sensitive and balanced.”
“It’s not just about bulldozers. We have to ensure livelihoods are protected while restoring the river’s health,” another official involved in the exercise explained.
For Srinagar’s residents, the upcoming report represents a test of political will and administrative resolve. As one boatman at Lal Chowk put it: “The Jhelum is Srinagar’s heartbeat. If it continues to choke, the city will choke with it.”
