After north Bihar,
east Uttar Pradesh and Assam, now it is the turn of Karnataka and
Andhra Pradesh to bear the brunt of floods. The situation in Assam
continues to be grim because the National Highway 31 that links the
state to the country has remained cut-off since September 9 with floods
affecting movement of trucks carrying essential items to the region. In
Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, heavy rains have killed more than 60
people, not to mention the destruction of property and natural
resources. With all the resources and funds at its disposal, how is it
that the State is always caught on the wrong foot every time there is a
deluge?
‘Disaster’ is a very convenient label, an umbrella term for any natural
calamity. But the truth is that most floods are State-induced
disasters. While mitigation, preparedness and response is part of the
cold chain to handle such crises, the second is the most crucial part —
and that is where we flounder time and again. Floods destroy more than
what meets the eye. Submerged land, destroyed options of livelihood,
severe lack of potable water — and people stranded without any access
to government services. The socio-economic fibre of the flood-hit area
is completely destroyed. To mitigate this large-scale destruction,
systems need to develop during the non-flood periods — not when the
water is literally at our doorstep. Not doing so is criminal because
floods are an annual occurrence and we have information about
susceptible areas every year.
First, decentralise policy initiatives by thinking micro-level. A
single blanket disaster management policy will not work for India.
Systems need to be created on how land can be developed during the
non-flood period, especially with extensive intervention in agriculture
so that people are left with foodgrains during floods. As for drinking
water, the recent insistence has been on handpumps. But what happens
when they get submerged during floods? Rainwater harvesting is a
possible alternative. Floods also mean a large-scale migration to other
parts of the country. Surely the State can provide opportunities based
on local skills to ensure that such flood-induced migration is
contained? And most importantly, preparedness is a factor of proactive
governance, outside-the-box thinking and a value for human life.
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