: In a bid to demarcate & designate flood basin areas of River Jhelum, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri today held a preliminary meeting to deliberate the modalities for notification of flood basin zones.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioners of Pulwama, Srinagar, Budgam, Bandipora and Ganderbal besides Chief Engineer Irrigation & Flood Control; Executive Engineers and officers of Wildlife and Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing departments.

At the outset, the concerned officers of I&FC gave a detailed presentation wherein they gave an overview of inundation areas of September 2014 flood, affected areas viz landuse and flood zoning of area to regulate human activity besides overall status & mapping of flood basins including Hokersar Wetland, Nowgam Jheel, Higam Jheel, Narkara Numbal, Anchar Lake, Wullar Lake, Left side of River Jhelum from Sangam to Padshahibagh.

The meeting deliberated over the diverse range of issues to tackle and mitigate the impact of floods. The meeting discussed the classification of areas into prohibited zone, regulated zone and warning zone based on permissibility of human activities.

Addressing the meeting, Div Com impressed Deputy Commissioners to conduct meetings of members from Irrigation & Flood Control, Forest & Revenue departments to conduct comprehensive study & survey of flood basins and submit the tentative proposals for the notification of the areas.

Meanwhile, in view of the inclement weather forecast, Div Com directed DCs to remain vigilant and keep men & machinery in readiness mode to ensure smooth & uninterrupted operation of essential services across the valley to facilitate the general public.