Flood impact: Let us revise our vision and definition of development

Flood impact: Let us revise our vision and definition of development

Maha Media 16 August 2019

Many states of the country are severely affected by heavy rain and floods. Not only villages but cities were also badly hit by recent havoc of rains. Hundreds of people lost their lives and over million were displaced in states like-Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand. There are reports that over two lakh people are living in relief camps in Kerala alone. The situation in Karnataka and Maharashtra is equally grim. Interim measures are important in the short-term but are not the ultimate answers.

According to a weather reports, out of the 15 places that have received most rainfall across the globe this week (Sunday-Monday), eight are in India. While such extreme weather conditions these days are usually attributed to climate change, there is no point blaming merely that phenomenon any more for the fallout; instead, it’s best to accept such extreme climate episodes as the new normal and find out ways to minimise their impact.
This serious problem raises many questions? Why have our rivers which were traditionally benevolent and life-giving suddenly become threatening? Our ancestors lived happily in the company of these hills and rivers, enjoying their comfort and abundance. Who made hills, rivers and rains hostile?
One of the key reasons why floods have a devastating impact on cities and towns is because the excess water does not have enough space to drain. This is because the storm water channels are clogged with plastic, and water sinks, such as wetlands, floodplains, or riverbeds have been destroyed by encroachments and excessive construction. The impact of such unplanned development was also seen in the floods of Mumbai (2005 and 2017), Uttarakhand (2013), Srinagar (2014), Chennai (2015), and Kerala (2018).
The plastic increases the threat of floods. While many cities have banned plastic, but the implementation of the law has been very weak.  The recent round of floods has also raised questions about dam management in the country. This issue has come to the fore after reports said that despite early warnings about heavy rainfall in the states, Maharashtra and Karnataka failed to release water from the dams on time.  Also unscientific location of house-sites coupled with myopic tinkering with natural drainage systems and water bodies and distortion of natural contours of land can make any settlement a pack of cards even in moderate rains. That is what has caused the landslides in Kerala this week.
It is time that the civil society, media and politicians wake up and join hands to firmly question the wisdom of this accepted life style.  It is time that at a personal level, we change the habits and needs that legitimize this development paradigm. A shift towards simplicity is not impossible. Let us revise our vision and definition of development All these issues need to be tackled if India wants to weather the climate storm.

Central and state governments should establish a full-fledged ministry of Flood Prevention and Relief. This ministry should work with all other concern departments to make sure that all necessary steps are taken to prevent floods and if it comes anyway, how to give relief to effected population.

 For Maha Media

Prabhakar Purandare