Sept. 6, 2024
Flood Management in India
Source: IE
Context: Recent floods in Assam highlight a recurring annual crisis in India, exacerbated by both natural and man-made factors.
Causes of Floods in India:
Natural Causes: Heavy rainfall, melting of glaciers, cyclones and storms and river overflow
Man Made Causes: Unplanned & rapid urbanisation, concretisation leads to increased surface runoff, Encroachment and development activities in riverbeds and floodplains can severely disrupt the natural flow of rivers, deforestation, poorly managed dams and barrages, Unsustainable mining practices disrupts the landscapeleading to soil erosion and sedimentation in nearby rivers, climate change and poor drainage systems.
How vulnerable is India to floods
• According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), regions susceptible to floods lie mostly along the Ganga-Brahmaputra river basin, from the northern states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, covering Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and stretching to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in the northeast.
• The coastal states of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, parts of Telangana and Gujarat also witness yearly floods.
• According to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest, there will be a rise in the frequency of floods in India due to rising temperatures between 2070 and 2100.
Solutions for Flood Management in India
Structural Measures:
• The Inter-Linking of Rivers programme (ILR) programme: linking different surplus rivers of the country with deficient rivers. Ex: Ken-Betwa linking project.
• Reservoirs: to store excess water during high-flow periods and release it during low-flow periods.Example: Bhakra Nangal Dam on the Sutlej River.
• Managing coastal floods through mangroves plantation, Ex: MISHTI Initiative.
• Embankments to confine water flow within channels or along riverbanks.
Non-structural Measures:
• Flood forecasting and early warning using meteorological and hydrological data. Example: Central Water Commission (CWC)
• Flood Plain Zoning: It is regulatory measures that control land use in flood-prone areas based on vulnerability and promotes conservation of natural flood buffers like wetlands and forests.
• Example: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) guidelines classify flood-prone land into four zones: prohibited, restricted, regulated, and free.
• Flood Insurance for flood-related losses, Example: Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)provides crop insurance for losses due to floods and other calamities.
• Flood Awareness:Flood awareness and education initiatives to raise awareness preparedness and response capabilities; fosters a culture of safety and resilience among communities.
Conclusion
To effectively tackle flooding, it is vital to recognize that both natural and man-made factors contribute to this ongoingcrisis. While natural causes are unavoidable, human actions like urban encroachment and poor infrastructure management, which significantly worsen the impact, can be managed. By adopting a holistic strategy that incorporates advanced forecasting, sustainable practices, and community awareness, we can better prepare for and respond to flooding challenges.