The 2014 deluge which was worst in the history of the State had lots of lessons for the state. But the administration that is known for its apathy towards people purposely decided not to learn a lesson. It is no secret that the state bureaucracy of all services for the past two and half decade has been in slumber about the problems confronting general masses. Instead of utilizing the tax payers’ money on the much development, it has been siphoning the funds with impunity. It is equally no secret under the canopy of political uncertainty in the state during the past two, and half decades larger section of top bureaucracy in the state have fattened and are fattening. Stories about senior bureaucrats, more particularly those enjoying the patronage of the politicians in the state and at New Delhi having purchased huge properties in the state and outside are rife in the corridors of power. In fact, civil servants and officers fattening on the public money have become a new normal in the state administration.
Four years after the deluge, the state administration has taken no concrete step for increasing discharge capacity of the Jhelum and other important tributaries was more than obvious when after two days intermittent rain, threats of another flood loomed large all over Kashmir. These rains had panicked people to believe that the capital city of Srinagar was on the brink of another huge inundation as that of 2014 when it had submerged for about three weeks. The coalition government did nothing except some cosmetic dredging of the Jhelum from the zero bridge and to the first bridge. Instead of removing encroachments and scooping sand from the river beds, it allowed construction of huge multi-story building even on river basins. Intriguingly, the bunds on the river breached almost at same spots where these had been repaired after the last flood. It even suspended the work that had been initiated for increasing discharge capacity of the flood channels. The two days rain exposed the vulnerability of the Lal Ded hospital lone maternity facility in the metropolis. The administration has failed to come up with comprehensive plans for preventing another major flood, the Raj Bhavan should issue a white paper.