Srinagar, Feb. 10 -- Jhelum River, which is the proud lifeline of Kashmir, is increasingly showing symptoms of irreversible damage. Recent reports, RTI replies and expert studies are pointing to a series of warnings in cold, harsh numbers which can be ignored at our peril. As per RTI documents, the Jhelum has not been dredged in the last five years. Under Phase-I of the Comprehensive Flood Management Programme (CFMP), 31 projects were tendered but only 16 have been completed. Then there are mounting encroachments. Per data, 1,884 encroachments along the river and its flood-spin channels have been identified in multiple divisions including Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag, and Kupwara. Post-2014 flood works did help briefly. After the 2014...