Negligence over flood causes massive destruction in India

The World Bank’s study has reported that by 2050, the standard of life of half of Indians would be reduced by 50%. India stands among the first five countries where the loss of life and property is very high due to floods.

New Delhi: Last year, around this time in Bihar, and in August- Orissa, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka were undergoing havoc due to floods. Currently, Assam is languishing the same way due to floods. Brahmaputra, Dhansiri, Jaya Bharali, Kovili, Beki are overflowing and flooding, crossing danger marks. More than 50,00,000 people are badly affected in 27 districts of the state. The floods, which have taken 80 lives so far, have flooded 95 % of the Kaziranga Park, which is spread over 430 square kilometres, and taken toll of wild animals and rhinos.

The Health Ministry has estimated that by the middle of August, there would be 64 thousand cases of dreaded coronavirus. In addition, the devastating floods have played havoc in two and a half lakh hectares of crops, and also created a breeding ground for Japanese Encephalitis. Even though, it was identified decades ago that 12% (4 crore hectares) of land in India has the threat of floods and 52 % of the natural disasters are due to floods, in the absence of proper corrective measures, several states are seeking help from the centre.

The Central Water Commission has declared, two years ago, that between 1953 and 2017 approximately 1,07,000 people perished in floods. The loss of property is about Rs 3.66 lakh crores. The floods are on the rise due to climatic changes and attacking big cities. The governments can no longer ignore or delay the corrective measures.

The World Bank’s study has reported that by 2050, the standard of life of half of Indians would be reduced by 50%. India stands among the first five countries where the loss of life and property is very high due to floods.

The Centre has agreed that heavy rainfall in a short span, an inadequate drainage system to cater to the present society, improper maintenance of reservoirs and inadequate measures to control floods are the reasons for the floods.

The flood bunds built in the 1960s have lost their efficacy by 1990. From 2000 onwards, every year, floods are heavily damaging the fortune of Assam. The central government has appointed a Task Fork after 2004 floods had taken a toll of 500 people, to find out a permanent solution. But the report is gathering dust.

The scheme to remove the silt from Brahmaputra’s river bed to the tune of 40,000 crore rupees has not crossed even proposal stage. The allocation of the 14th Finance Commission to face natural disasters countrywide itself is Rs 61,219 for five years. We do not know to what extent the new Finance Commission would do to minimize the loss of lives and property. The World Bank has declared that every dollar that is spent to prevent the floods, would help to prevent eight dollars damage due to floods.

The Netherlands which lies beneath the sea level, with its 2/3rd financial resources in the flood-prone areas, has prepared a strong protective umbrella and is giving lessons to the world. India should take up that kind of spirit and bind itself for the prevention of flood control.