After months have been spent monsoon forecasting, we now, paradoxically, have to face flood fury, for which we appear to be least prepared (“ >85 dead, 68 lakh displaced as rains pound north & east ”, July 31). Alongside this, the ritual of rescuing flood-hit victims, VIPs conducting aerial surveys, and officials sheltering flood victims in temporary housing/camps continues. Every year, thousands of crores are spent in flood relief measures, and when the waters recede, it is back to square one. All States, especially those affected by floods, must have a sizeable budgetary allocation towards flood control measures.
D.B.N. Murthy,
Bengaluru
A leading scientist at the Energy and Wetlands Research Group, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, says that Bengaluru will soon become a dead city. An inefficient administration and the real estate lobby are killing the garden city. Rajakaluves that lead water to tanks have been encroached upon. The “frothing” of water at Bellandur shows unchecked water pollution. Debris dumping is creating even more problems. I am sure that this is the case in every metro.
A. Srikantaiah,
Bengaluru
Smart cities can wait. Rain-induced flooding in Bengaluru is an example of how most of our cities are now bearing the brunt of inadequate and archaic town planning. Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and now Bengaluru and Gurgaon have been affected by unplanned construction. While in the West, planners think about the next 100 years, in India, we take pride in being stuck in the past. Encroachment of waterbodies, tree felling and unchecked migration are resulting in urban nightmares. We cannot allow the inorganic growth of cities. Corruption in our civic bodies must be rooted out and growth planned in such a way that the infrastructure does not crumble in the face of nature’s fury.
Rahul J. Gautam,
Bengaluru
Why can’t there be a system developed for rainwater to drain into waterbodies and rivers without affecting houses and roads? The way roads are laid in a haphazard manner these days results in them acting as check dams. For the guidance of all concerned, watermark pillars must be erected in all cities/towns as flooding can no longer be ignored. Road engineers must be given a crash course in how to follow good engineering practices. Finally, rainwater harvesting measures must be put in place.
R. Ganesan,
Chennai
