THE DELUGE

On September 7, 2014, a spree of cloudbursts and incessant rains propelled a heavy flow of water overflowing river Jhelum and causing devastating floods. Jhelum crossed a record 23 feet at Ram Munshi Bagh gauge, while the level went over 36 feet at Sangam submerging localities on both sides of the river from south Kashmir to Srinagar. As per estimates, flood water measuring over one lakh cusecs surpassed the carrying capacity of Jhelum— causing massive devastation of property.

Kashmir valley is one of the most flood hazard-prone regions in the Himalayas. The valley has been witnessing frequent floods for centuries.

It witnessed floods on regular intervals with major ones in 1903, 1905, 1909, 1928, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1986, 1992, 1995, 1996, 2006 and the devastating one in 2014. Experts maintain that floods are mostly caused by the filling up of Jhelum’s flood plains and backwater effects due to low outflows from Wullar Lake which has lost its carrying capacity by heavy accumulation of silt.

Govt of India’s initiative

After the 2014 floods, the Government of India launched a Comprehensive Flood Management programme in 2015 to increase the carrying capacity of Jhelum and its spill channels. Under PMDP, the project was to be completed in two phases. Phase 1 at the cost of Rs 399 crores has been completed. Phase II has been kick-started after being approved for Rs 1623.43 crores.

The Irrigation and Flood Control Department claims the carrying capacity of Jhelum has been increased from 30800 cusecs to 41000 cusecs since 2014. But the situation on the ground tells a different tale. The level of Jhelum suddenly rises after a spell of rain for few days and even at times reaches the Flood alarm level.

DETERIORATION

Considered to be Kashmir’s lifeline, Jhelum spans 175 sq kms from south to north Kashmir, has lost its carrying capacity and floods plains.  The river’s flat topography makes Srinagar the most vulnerable area to flooding in J&K. Wetlands on the left and right of Jhelum acted as reservoirs of the floodwaters. Ecologically important wetlands in the Jhelum floodplains like Hokersar, Bemina wetland, Narakara wetland, Batamaloo numbal, Rakh-e-arth, Anchar lake and Gilsar have been degraded due to rapid encroachment and urbanisation.

On-the-spot assessment of the flood spill channel reveals that no major dredging has been undertaken. Infact a large portion of the flood spill channel near Tengpora has been converted into a cricket field. A narrow channel nearby forms the flood channel now. The 48-km flood channel starting from Rambagh to Wullar lake, looks like a small canal due to silt deposition causing formation of a landmass.  At Rambagh, the flood spill channel has been overwhelmed by mounds of garbage, grass and debris reducing its carrying capacity. It looks more like a wetland!

In absence of sewage treatment plants, hundreds of drains and dewatering stations from south Kashmir to north Kashmir pollute the river.

EXPERTS RAISE RED FLAG

Experts too are not convinced of the flood mitigation measures so far. In absence of regulation, wanton constructions in flood plains of Jhelum have taken place in the last several decades.

“After some emergency restoration works undertaken immediately after the floods nothing substantive, neither by way of an engineering study nor by way of execution on ground, has been done. Post these emergency works dredging of the river was undertaken but the way it was executed clearly showed it was more of photo ops than a serious attempt to reduce the flood risk. In fact it can be argued that the way the dredging was executed it increased the flood risk to Srinagar city,” Iftikhar Drabu, a noted environmentalist told Greater Kashmir.

Elaborating, he said soon after the floods proposals were submitted to central government and funding was obtained. “But there is a big question mark on how much of the works executed were strictly falling under flood mitigation or flood protection,”

“From what one hears a number of works were executed which might not have in any way helped in reducing our flood risks. The Department has been targeting low hanging fruit and do not want to get into anything serious, meaningful and which will be a long-term solution to our flood woes

Drabu maintains that in last 10 years, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department could have undertaken an exhaustive study but literally nothing has been done and the time has just been wasted.”

“I&FC Department had invited tenders for consultancy for preparing a DPR for Jhelum in 1996-97 but the proposal was scuttled. The proposal was revived 10 years later but yet again it was scuttled. Eventually, several years after the floods the contract was awarded under JTRFR but nothing much is known of how far the study has been completed,” he said.

“On one hand we are working on flood mitigation measures and scratching our heads to find a solution while on other hand we are filling up our existing wetlands, marshes, swamps and flood detention basins; be it IIM, Transworld University, Rakh Arth housing or recently announced the 15000 crore NBCC project,” Drabu said.

“The most practical, cost-effective solution is to create small storages in the feeder rivers, streams. These storages schemes can act as flood moderation basins, will recharge ground water, can be used as picnic spots and for growth of pisciculture. We could even set up small hydro schemes using the storage ponds for generation during peak hours and most importantly make hybrid power projects using solar power,”said Drabu who is also a civil engineer with expertise in infrastructure.

“A decade after devastating floods, we are still witnessing flood-like situations after few days of rains. We believe that flood mitigation measures re not being implemented properly,” said MM Shuja, an environmental activist and co-convenor Environmental Policy Group who has filed several PILs on the conservation of environment.

“There must be an audit by a credible independent authority to verify the claims of the Irrigation and Flood Control department. It is clearly visible that the condition and carrying capacity of Jhelum are deteriorating and reducing fast,” Shuja said.

JUDICIAL INTERVENTION

On August 21, the High Court of J&K and Ladakh granted the government a week to file a status report indicating the steps it has taken in keeping with court orders to prevent a situation like that of the devastating floods in 2014.

On the previous hearing on June 11, the court had held that preventing the possibility of recurrence of devastating floods like 2014 remained its prime importance and had directed the authorities to file a detailed affidavit indicating steps taken in terms of various orders passed by the Court from time to time in this regard.

“This court, vide order dated October 9, 2017, with regard to the directions issued from time to time, particularly on August 18, 2017, and September 11, 2017, reminded the authorities that the court is not powerless in matters involving public interest. The Court is sufficiently empowered to take such action which would constrain the authorities to follow the dictates of law,” the Court held

The Court also sought the latest compliance report in terms of its order dated June 10, 2016, in which it, among others, had directed all the concerned Deputy Commissioners to ensure that no construction of any kind is raised near the water bodies within their territorial jurisdiction, which shall also include details in tabulated form regarding the encroachments removed on the River Jhelum.

Advocate Nadeem Qadri said the High Court has passed many landmark orders in Flood PIL initiated by Environmental Policy Group (EPG), under PIL No. 8 of 2017. “But the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has failed to implement the orders of the Hon’ble Court in letter and spirit. As an Amicus Curie. I am trying my level best to bring factual positions before the Hon’ble Court and identify the loopholes, so that the Government takes some preventive measures,”Qadri told Greater Kashmir.

“Very recently, the Hon’ble Division Bench passed 20 page order to remind the Government that Hon’ble High Court is not powerless and can invoke the powers for implementation of its orders. I believe the Government has not set the priorities related to Flood Prevention in Valley of Kashmir and no such tangible work is seen to mitigate the imminent threat of the Floods in Kashmir,” he said.

Qadri said the government must implement the orders of the High Court in letter and spirit and show their intense seriousness towards the flood prevention and preparedness, to save Kashmir from devastating floods like in 2014.

PEOPLE’S INITIATIVE

Environmental Policy Group has been fighting a long legal battle to restore glory of Jhelum. “We are committed to ensure flood protection measures are implemented in letter and spirit on the ground. We cannot afford to have another 2014-like floods which was Kashmir’s worst natural disaster in terms of economic loss,” said Faiz Ahmad Bakshi, convenor of EPG.

OFFICIALS SPEAK

Irrigation and Flood Department claims that since 2014, the carrying capacity of Jhelum from Sangam to Padhshahibagh has been increased. It states  that the carrying capacity at Ram Munshibagh, has been increased from 27,000 to 32,000 cusecs. Additionally, the off take at Padhshahibagh has expanded from 4,000 to 27,000 cusecs. In Wullar the outlet capacity at Ningli been increased from 20,000 to 22,700 cusecs, and at Sopore, it has increased from 31,000 to 35,000 cusecs respectively. The department claims that it has desilted 670 kms of canal network and removed 2.90 lakh cum of silt in 2023-24.

Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Department Braham Jyoti Sharma told Greater Kashmir that works on the flood mitigation projects are going on.

“Due to flood mitigation measures, carrying capacity of Jhelum has increased from 31,800 to 41,000 cusecs. After implementation, these measures will help to mitigate a low to moderate magnitude floods upto 60,000 cusecs discharge at Sangam point.”

The post Decade after devastating floods, no lessons learnt appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

Almost all residential areas, and business spaces were filled with water, inflicting immense damage to the economy. The streets and roads turned into waterways.

The people were cut off from each other, the government was clueless, and it was a battle for existence at the level of an individual and the family, with no means to connect to the outer world for any rescue.

That was the time when a man came forward and did something extraordinary to restore the devastated. Justice M M Kumar (Retd), then Chief Justice of J&K, passed unprecedented orders that went a long way in helping businesses and households to compensate for the loss.

D A Rashid and Wahid Bukhari of Greater Kashmir bring alive the memories of the event by interacting with the man himself, Justice M M Kumar (Retd). 

Q: How did your journey begin in the legal profession?

Justice Kumar: Well, my journey is long. Right from my middle classes, my father was very keen that I should join the legal profession. Even at that stage, he asked me to pursue Urdu classes to have familiarisation with the language because most of the documents in Punjab used to be in Urdu.

After doing my LLB from Punjabi University Patiala, I started my practice in the trial court in district Sangrur and for two years I practiced there. As the dream of my father was to see me very high in the profession, he planned my career abroad. My brother, Dr J M Kumar, was a neurosurgeon in England and he organised my Masters degree there.

In 1979, I went to the UK for higher studies. In 1981, I came back and joined the chamber of a very eminent lawyer at that time, Mr Kuldip Singh who later became the judge of the Supreme Court directly from the Bar, a rare distinction for a lawyer.

In 1984 I was offered a guest faculty job at the University of Punjab, Department of Law and I started there as a part-time teacher. For six years, I taught there and practiced along. So I picked very good practice and became vice president of the Bar Association in 1991. In 1995 I was appointed as additional advocate general of Punjab and then the journey continued. In 2001, I was elevated as judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court and in 2012, I was recommended to be the chief justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court and took oath as Chief Justice on 8th of June 2012.

Q: In 2014, a devastating flood ravaged Kashmir and you were J&K’s Chief Justice. Can you share your experience of the time, and the event?

Justice Kumar: Well, the experiences during the flood time were full of surprises. There was a big challenge because on early morning of September 8, 2014, the flood engulfed the whole Srinagar and there was hue and cry everywhere. Everyone was taken by surprise as to how it happened. So people were taking shelter on the top of the roofs and it was a very dreadful situation; everyone apprehended that many people would die, but with the grace of God the loss of life was very little, almost negligible.

The High Court was under water to about 8-9 ft. The record was damaged. The Chief Justice’s house was also under water to 7-8ft. I cannot forget the early morning of the 7th of September. Jhelum was overflowing. But nobody imagined that the flood could be of such a magnitude that the houses like Chief Justice’s House will come under water up to 7-8ft and it was just short of touching the roof. And early morning, it was around 2 am when debate was going on between the officials of the High Court and the local administration whether I should shift to Hari Niwas or I should continue to stay in the house. Mr Akhoon, who was my personal secretary at that time, ultimately suggested that there was no harm in going to Hari Niwas. So we decided to pack, and by that time the flood had reached Badami Bagh, very close to the Chief Justice’s house.

In Sonawar Chowk, one could see flood waters flowing. By the morning the Chief Justice house was under 6-ft water and by evening it was 7-8ft. Our four employees were also trapped there and they took shelter on top of the wall adjoining the mosque and by great effort they were rescued and brought to Hari Niwas. The then Governor Mr N N Vohra played a vital role in rescuing the workers and later saving my belongings from the Chief Justice’s House.

After coming to Hari Niwas, there was no clear picture emerging as to what was going to happen next and for how long the situation was going to be like that. So the next question was what to do in this situation. I drafted letter, hand-written by my daughter Dr Nisha, and it was sent to the Governor House which was adjacent to Hari Niwas. So the letter reached Mr Vohra and he in a message said kindly come over.

And we in the evening went to his house and discussed the entire situation and then I requested him that a building may be provided for running the Court. My request through a letter was forwarded to the administration and the Chief Minister held a cabinet meeting in Hari Niwas, and they did not find any solution to my problem and they eventually showed their helplessness.

And ultimately the Governor conveyed to me that they were finding it difficult to find a place. Since I was determined, I told my Registrar General, and after discussion, we found that M-6 Gupkar house was allotted to one Judge who had not occupied it. So I took the tentative decision and took it to the Full Court and all the Hon’ble Judges agreed that let the High Court work from M-6 Gupkar Road.

We informed the Governor that the transit High Court would be M-6 Gupkar road and consulted the members and the president of the High Court Bar Association, and they agreed happily. As the situation was chaotic, I thought a number of petitions would be filed seeking relief and exactly the same thing happened. There was no telephone working and the governor sent me a satellite phone and arranged various types of facilities like temporary washrooms, sitting rooms and tents for lawyers in the lawns of the M-6 Gupkar Road and within two days it was made functional. Interestingly, the Supreme Court had laid down the principle that all the admissions to MBBS, engineering colleges etc.,

should be completed by the end of September. So I had to constitute a special bench to finish those cases as otherwise students could lose their career dream of entering MBBS, MD, engineering colleges or any other profession. I constituted a special bench so that all cases concerning admission were taken care of.

Then a very interesting petition related to insurance claims came and I was informed that people were suffering. Subsequently, thirty more petitions were filed, if I remember correctly. Somebody had insured a house, someone commercial enterprise or shops for fifty lakh, one crore, two crores etc. The insurance companies were right in arguing that unless there was a survey conducted and a report by surveyor submitted, they would not be able to assess the loss and they would not be able to pay. Since the cases were many, they thought it would take two years to settle the claims.

So I told them that the purpose of necessity of having insurance would be defeated. I had the reports that people from Polo View, Lal Chowk and other areas were in deep problems and the Division Bench decided that during pendency of the petition and pendency of report by surveyors, 50% of the insured amount be disbursed. If a commercial establishment was insured for Rs 1 crore, the establishment was directed to be paid Rs fifty lakh immediately so that some relief was given to it.

I had reports that a chemist had thrown all the medicine on the road, likewise cloth merchants; provision store owners were dumping every item on the road. So, when the judgment was delivered, naturally there was some criticism because it was deviating from well settled law that unless there was report from surveyor certifying the loss, no insurance amount could be disbursed. I said extraordinary situation needs extra extraordinary remedy, and therefore I granted this.

Q: Was it difficult to ensure insurance companies comply with the order? Was this a big challenge?

Justice Kumar: This was an extra-ordinary order and there was no doubt about it, and the insurance companies did not keep quite. The then Attorney General of India, Mr Rohatgi appeared and interestingly, the then Chief Justice of India Mr H L Dattu had visited the Kashmir Valley himself.

He had seen the makeshift court. He had seen district court at Lal Chowk in 18-ft water. So he had seen everything, the deluge, the type of sludge which was there in the High court. When the matter was listed before the Supreme Court and the Attorney General argued on the basis of the law, the Chief Justice said that see the house of the Chief Justice of J&K, the plight of the people there, and dismissed the appeal.

After the dismissal, there was no doubt left that the order had to be implemented and with the teeth of contempt, the insurance companies could not have violated the directions. So I issued directions, giving them a week or ten days. So the cheques started pouring in and I could see relief on the faces of people when they were given the cheques.

Even many lawyers whose houses were under water, got the cheques. So I felt very happy that at least they had some interim relief and could be rehabilitated. And shops and commercial establishments could be refurbished. For example, a shop at Lal Chowk had 4-5 floors and at least five people working there and in this way 25 individuals were dependent on one shop. So, look at the type of relief they got. It was a slightly technical way of granting the relief and it was extraordinary to meet the requirement of justice, I think the order was required and it served very well.

Secondly, when you look at the data, if earlier in J&K there were ten people going for insurance, now it is ten times because people now have confidence and now they believe the High Court is there to give them their money. The system has proven right that your insurance is not going to be wasted.

Q: Was the order regarding 50% of payment release an instantaneous thought, or there was any precedence?

Justice Kumar: There was no precedent and there was one policy for small shopkeepers that if an establishment was insured for Rs 10 lakh, Rs 5 lakh had to be paid during the times of flood or fire. So I picked up that policy and expanded it. The Supreme Court was happy to accept this theory which I devised and later on this judgment was followed by other High Courts where floods occurred to enable immediate relief. This is the beauty of the whole thing. The revenue has not suffered but it has gained as the number of insurance cover has increased; more people are opting for it.

Q: How was this directive seen by people, especially the business community?

Justice Kumar: Well, some office bearers of confederation of industry had initially approached me and they approached me later also in the month of November, December and in January 2015. I had to demit office, so I told them that judges do not accept any award, or anything.

The people were very happy and feeling very good and relieved. A number of businessmen wanted to meet me. Then in 2018, I met a few of them and recently they welcomed and hosted me and all this data on manifold increase in insurance cover in Kashmir valley was given to me by Confederation.

Q: Does it all give satisfaction, some pleasure to know that people are happy?

Justice Kumar: I had the satisfaction of doing the job to rescue the people from crises. Another aspect, when I and my wife and daughter were rescued from Chief Justice’s House, they were with me and we came to know about the plight of the people in various camps. My wife is running an NGO and she thought we can disburse some cash but people refused to take cash because people said that they cannot buy anything.

They wanted food, clothes etc., and she gave a call to all the NGOs in Punjab and they got trucks of food, clothes and many other items of day to day use. So the satisfaction. Even the High Court staff disbursed the food and pulses so that people don’t sleep empty stomach. Every effort was made on humanitarian grounds that the people were served to the extent we could. When the Supreme Court upheld my order, it was a great satisfaction that something which I had done was liked by the Apex Court, although it was not strictly in accordance with the law. But the Supreme Court thought it was befitting order in the circumstances to meet ends of justice and equity.

The insurance companies had to shell out hundreds of crores but they got it back and it must be manifold than what they disbursed at that time. That is the beauty of the system and the system has run fully. This is what I liked about it.

Q: You could have worked from Jammu till the flood threat was over?

Justice Kumar: Had I stayed in Jammu, all these things, meeting the Governor, informing him about day to day problems and his conveying it to the Chief Minister and Chief Minister taking the decision could not have happened. Then my meeting the members of the Bar and talking to Judges that the transit court was the need of the hour and everybody agreeing and cooperating would also not have happened.

Given the response filed by authorities to the PIL regarding the post flood scenario, do you see differences then and now, especially in disaster management?

Well, I came recently to Srinagar and on the way, I saw Jhelum. I could see the earth and it means the Jhelum is full of sand and the water intake capacity of Jhelum continues to be the same. It has not improved. I do not know why some measures about de-silting are not taken. It is an expert’s job and it has to be done in an expert manner. It has to be done in a manner that the whole Jhelum is completely de-silted.

It is not the first time that Valley is facing this type of problem, and like world over these problems have been there. Dredging, and de-silting process has to be carried.

Q: Every time it rains for a few days, there is a threat of floods. What is to be done in such a situation?

Justice Kumar: I think somebody has to take a call on emergent basis. You can see what is happening in New Delhi due to heavy rains, completely ravaged, and the water in buildings is 6-ft, with basements completely filled with water. Offices working from basements devastated. So with these management techniques, drainage has to be kept clean. Responsibility has to be fixed and the public has to have civic sense. This is lacking in our country.

Q: When you were Chief Justice of J&K High Court, several PILs had been filed. Your views over implementation of orders?

Justice Kumar: As far as my period is concerned, a large number of PILs came to be filed and orders passed thereon were implemented. There was a chairman of BOPEE against whom one PIL came to be filed, and this matter was taken to logical end, ending up in his sentencing. It was an eye-opener.

The students who were scoring 80%, 90% were not securing admission in the MBBS colleges. The students with lesser marks were admitted and when they failed in their first semester, the people realised what was happening. So Chairman BOPEE, on the directions of the High Court, was arrested and it was a very successful PIL.

I also mention that senior advocate B A Bashir, who was appointed as amicus curiae, did a good job and with Justice Attar, who was my bench partner, we were able to steer through. Then other PIL during my time was hotels discharging waste directly into water bodies; I gave a deadline to hotels to have STPs and refuse must be treated. I realised nobody was taking these directions seriously and I ordered sealing of hotels across the state—Katra, Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam etc., for not installing STPs; hotels were releasing refuse directly into water bodies and there was likelihood of people falling sick. It was also a successful PIL.

Q: There is a general perception, a PIL is misused. How can this menace be stopped?

Justice Kumar: There is an inbuilt mechanism and there is a committee constituted by the Chief Justice to scan and scrutinise it. Yes, a PIL is also being misused and that misuse has to be stopped. I have no hesitation in saying that even some lawyers misuse the platform to advance the interests of private persons, and the Supreme Court has come down heavily on such practices. There is a duty cast on the high court that if the government fails to do governmental function, like no road connectivity to some village despite the government having knowledge, the High Court’s intervention is must.

The post On this day, exactly a decade before… appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

The issues that are being emphasized during these elections are essentially the issues that the people of J&K are experiencing, which are the deterioration of democracy, and a rise in unemployment.

In the past decade, the state of Jammu and Kashmir has experienced a significant political transformation, which has resulted in its absence from the local scene. One of the significant changes in the political landscape of J&K was the revocation of Article 370 in August 2019, which eliminated the region’s special status. Understanding the administrative structure of the state is further complicated by its division into two Union Territories—Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

The area has been directly ruled as a result of these events, and local political participation has been restricted. The absence of a correctly functioning legislative power has resulted in a sense of alienation among voters. This absence of representation has been particularly acutely felt in a region where the issues of representation have been contentious for some time.

One of the other significant topics of the current elections is employment, and more specifically, unemployment. The region has also been plagued by high levels of unemployment over the past decade due to political instability, economic stagnation, and insecurity. Recent reports have indicated that J&K has one of the highest unemployment rates among all states in India, particularly in terms of adolescent unemployment. To elucidate the causes of this crisis, the information presented in this study was intended. This crisis has been influenced by a variety of factors.

That is why the economic activity experienced substantial losses as a result of the prolonged turmoil and subsequent lock-ins. Tourism, handicrafts, and agriculture, which were previously the primary sources of employment for a significant number of individuals, have significantly suffered. The rate of employment creation has also been influenced by the poor investment in the private sector and the negligible or lack of industrial development.

In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has exerted additional pressure on the economy, particularly in terms of employment opportunities and economic devastation, culminating in a catastrophe. The government has been accused of not taking sufficient action to address these challenges, with some arguing that the measures implemented do not provide the requisite solutions to unemployment. The younger generation in J&K has similar aspirations and expectations, and their numbers are substantial. However, they have been severely disappointed. It is clear that the opportunity to secure employment and generate an income that will enable one to overcome destitution and other obstacles has not been realized, resulting in despair. This situation has also contributed to an increase in social insecurity among the youth as a result of unemployment, which has in turn led to an increase in insecurity in the region.

The democratic deficit is believed to be the result of the erosion of democratic values and the right to freedom among the people of JK. This is due to a variety of political deficiencies that have governed JK. This has prompted numerous apprehensions regarding the future of democracy in the region, as there has been no elected official to represent the interests of the people for many years, and instead, the central government holds authority.

These apprehensions have been further exacerbated by the fact that the elections have been postponed to a date that is even further from the original schedule. A significant number of individuals are concerned that the region’s relatively mature independent political identity is being gradually undermined. For decades, J&K enjoyed a unique status under Article 370, which granted it a substantial degree of autonomy in contrast to other states of the Indian Union.

Thus, the forthcoming elections are fraught with significant implications. The people of J&K are also represented by them as the opportunity to fight for their democratic destiny and reclaim their political power. Nevertheless, the process of regaining democracy is arduous and fraught with complications.

The political landscape of the state has undergone a significant transformation, and the traditional political parties in the region of J&K are currently in a state of severe distress. The electoral process has become increasingly complex as a result of the extensive involvement of new political actors and the shifting of loyalty among various political actors, which has resulted in shifts in the power dynamic.

Additionally, the security environment remains relatively unstable or volatile, with the ongoing activities of militant groups and acts of violence in the region. Consequently, the primary obstacle for the authorities is the organization of free and fair elections in a hostile environment. The safety of the electors and their ability to vote are additional critical factors that will significantly influence the legitimacy of the electoral process.

The Legal Regulation of Independent Candidates and New Political Parties: Independent candidates or new political parties have entered the political arena as the strength of traditional political parties declines or is at least diluted. These candidates, may originate from a specific location, embody the populism and localized grievances that characterize the population of J&K. The current political activity in question is demonstrated through their involvement in the elections, which serves as a signal of transformation.

Nevertheless, there has been a significant amount of discussion regarding the responsibilities of these independent candidates. Opponents of independent candidacy contend that the proliferation of independent candidates may result in the dispersion of the vote, which would erode the political unity of the populace.

Additionally, there are concerns that a variety of Mai libertarians and anti-democracy actors from outside may attempt to disrupt the country’s democracy in order to advance their own personal interests. Although this was accompanied by some positive aspects of the process, such as the independence of candidates, it may be viewed as a ray of democracy in J&K at present. It demonstrates the people’s persistent demand for the right to vote, be elected for, and have a voice in the country’s governance, despite the obstacles they faced at some point.

Given the aforementioned critical issues, the future prospects of J&K cannot be solely based on democratic institutions and employment generation, which would render economic growth in the region significant.

Political instability and security concerns have resulted in the unrealization of the region’s true resources, which have the potential to attract prosperity. A clear economic strategy that addresses the fundamental issues of a high unemployment rate and thereby establishes a strong structural foundation for a democratic state is necessary to actualize the aspirations of the populace for a better life and the ability to live off their own labor.

Employment generation, education and training and skill development, transportation and communication infrastructure enhancement, and physical infrastructure investment are the primary factors that contribute to the maintenance of economic growth. The revival of the region’s economy may be contingent upon the expansion of sectors that have experienced a decline, such as the tourism industry, and those that have not been extensively marketed, such as the handcraft industries, information technology, and renewable energy.

Additionally, the future of the region will be influenced by the policies of the Indian government in relation to J&K. The Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) will be evaluated in the future, and it is widely regarded as a straightforward method of evaluating the government’s performance based on the outcomes of these initiatives.

In conclusion, it is one of the most critical points that Jammu and Kashmir has ever encountered. The stakes are high as the people of Jammu and Kashmir prepare to cast their ballots after a decade-long hiatus. These two issues have intensified the electoral processes, particularly because their results will have a lasting impact on the region’s future, including the deterioration of democracy and unemployment.

The elections also provide the people of J&K with the opportunity to express themselves and, if necessary, to summon their leaders to order. However, the process of reestablishing democracy and economic development will be challenging and will require a lengthy period of time, during which both political leadership and civil society will be required to make a significant contribution. The action continues to loom ahead, laden with challenges, yet it is also the path to a fresh perspective on life and transformation.

At this juncture in history, the people of Jammu and Kashmir are in a unique position to shape their future despite the challenges they face. People will anticipate that they will be undertaking this action in order implement democracy and to create a more equitable future for all.

By: Dr. Firdous Ahmad Malik, Assistant Professor of Economics, Department of Management.

University of People, Pasadena, California, United States.

By: Owais Ismaeil, Doctoral Fellow, Centre of Advanced Study, Department of History, University of Delhi.

The post A Decade Later appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

The UN has raised the alarm on the need for furtherinternational cooperation to deal with the health and criminal impact ofsubstance misuse, the Efe news reported.”

“The findings of this’year’s World Drug Report fill inand further complicate the global picture of drug challenges, underscoring theneed for broader international cooperation to advance balanced and integratedhealth and criminal justice responses to supply and de”and,” YuryFedotov, Executive Director of the UN’s Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC),said.

“With improved research and more precise data fromIndia and Nigeria, both amongst the 10 most populous countries in the world –we see that there are any more opioid users and people with drug use disordersthan previously estimated,” Fedotov added.

The surveys in India in 2018 and Nigeria in 2017 haveoffered great insights into drug consumption due to being such vastdemographics for their region. India accounts for 30 per cent of the populationin Asia alone.

The Indian survey was based on interviews with 5,00,000people across the nation.

The studies have contributed to more accurate figures ofdrug use globally.

The report estimated that of the 271 million people thatused any drug, 35 million (nearly 13 per cent) suffer from a drug use disorder.

Previous records fell 4.5 million people short in theirestimates and it was the surveys conducted in both India and Nigeria thattriggered the adjustment.

The death toll also increased, with 5,85,000 people dying in2017 from drug use.

Cannabis consumption, the most widely used drug globallywith approximately 188 million users in 2016, has increased in Asia and Northand South America, whilst a spike in use of opioids was registered.

Opioids are the drugs that present the largest cause forconcern due to the severe impact on the health of users.

Also of concern is the non-medical use of painkillerTramadol produced in South Asia and trafficked primarily to Africa and theMiddle East.

Amongst the negative consequences of drug use, mental healthdisorders, HIV infection, hepatitis C and overdose are the main concerns, manyof which can lead to premature death.

Injecting drugs, mainly opioids, is deemed the mostdangerous way of consuming narcotics due to the proliferation of diseasesthrough the sharing of needles.

The rate of 15-64 year olds who inject drugs is four timeshigher in eastern and southeastern Europe and in central Asia.

According to the report, 50 per cent of those who injectdrugs live with hepatitis C.

Mortality rates overwhelmingly affect men who account for 72per cent of those who die as a result of drug use.

Sixty-eight per cent of overdose deaths in 2017 were due toopioids.

Most of the world’s opioids are produced in Afghanistan(263,000 hectares of poppy seed production) with Myanmar (37,300 hectares)coming in as the second largest producer amid a decline in consumption in Asiaas the demand for synthetic drugs increased, particularly methamphetamine.

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