Thomson Reuters Foundation People wade through a flooded street after incessant rains in Srinagar Apr 7, 2017. Reuters
A flood management plan, drawn up to protect the capital of Indian-administered Kashmir after record rainfall in 2014 caused widespread damage and about 150 deaths, is drying out an internationally protected wetland near Srinagar, officials say. );
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The two-stage plan, started in 2018, includes dredging and deepening an existing drainage channel that diverts water from the River Jhelum around the city, through the Hokera wetland and back into the river in Baramullah district to prevent flooding.
The flood spill channel in Hokera has now been excavated down to an average of 15 feet in the first phase of the plan, and is expected to help ward off minor flood threats.
Kashmir bid to stop urban flooding claims wetland casualty
Thursday, 24 December 2020 06:00 GMT
A man gazes at the Hokersar wetland, Srinagar, India, December 13, 2020. Thomson Reuters Foundation/Athar Parvaiz
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By Athar Parvaiz
SRINAGAR, India, Dec 24 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A flood management plan, drawn up to protect the capital of Indian-administered Kashmir after record rainfall in 2014 caused widespread damage and about 150 deaths, is drying out an internationally protected wetland near Srinagar, officials say.
The two-stage plan, started in 2018, includes dredging and deepening an existing drainage channel that diverts water from the River Jhelum around the city, through the Hokera wetland and back into the river in Baramullah district to prevent flooding.