Flood management

It is unfortunate that despite timely forecast of an excess monsoon this year, most parts of the country are facing flood fury (Editorial, Aug.24). De-silting and dredging of river basins should have been done before the onset of the monsoon and embankments strengthened. Climate change could be one reason. However, there is a limit to speculation. Afforestation, interlinking of certain rivers, prohibiting construction on flood plains, and utilising the dynamism of the Indian Space Research Organisation in increasing the efficacy of flood-mitigating strategies should be thought of.

Saurav Kumar,

Khabra, Bihar

Much time and money is spent by the Centre and States in relief and rescue operations following floods. The foremost need is to stop and remove encroachments on riverbeds and in floodplains. There can be no haphazard planning of our cities and towns. Techniques and technologies available worldwide to scale down such disasters, such as temporary flood barriers and the Netherlands’ “Room for the River” programme, must be studied and implemented. The draft River Regulation Zone notification sent out by the Environment Ministry to States should be made effective.

V. Nagarajan,

Chennai

It is a paradox that before the onset of the monsoon, people face acute water scarcity and once it sets in, there is catastrophic flooding. The two contrary positions make it discernible that our water management system is poor. Rampant and unregulated intrusion into the river ecology is to be largely blamed for this. Floods have been a problem confronting India from time immemorial, but that it is an issue that still haunts us shows that we need to re-examine our policies.

Gagan Pratap Singh,

Noida, Uttar Pradesh