A remote village, about 105 km from Guwahati, Rasulpur was previously heaven for traditional cultivation of paddy, jute, blackgram, peanuts as well as perishable vegetables such as brinjal, cauliflower, cabbage, okra, etc. with its vast expanse. Over past decades however the village shrunk to “a proportion from where it will vanish from the map”. Termed a large village with almost 8000 bighas of land fertile for cultivation today it has a merely 50 bighas (16.5 acres) of land remain here”

Truth is, as Sabrangindia has previously analysed and reported, 51 percent of the total land of Assam is covered by Forest area, 15 percent is under water. Thus, only 35 percent of the total geographical area is only open for either agricultural use or for homestead use as per Directorate of Economic and Statistics, Government of Assam. Taking this into account, the Water Resources Minister’s submission before the state legislature in 2021 warned us of the huge topographical, climatic and migration pattern changes that have been impacted by river erosion. This remains key to understanding geo-politics here.

Who are the worst affected people?

Who are the people affected by the large-scale erosion? It is Muslims, especially the East Bengal origin Muslims, who were settled in Assam before Independence and Partition, due to British policy of:

a) grow more food,

b) grow cash crops,

c) gather more land revenue.

They were settled in the riverside areas (also known as Char lands)  of Assam in between 1901 to 1946 and earlier, and are the worst affected by this cycle of perpetual erosion.

Incentives like issuing free family tickets of trains, so that they come to Assam and settle here. They were also allotted certain plots of vacant etc were offered by the British to Bengali Muslim cultivators; they were exempt from paying land taxes for a certain period. But, this was a double-edged sword: due to the line-system, also put in place by the British, these Muslims were confined and deprived of free movement,  not allowed to cross this imaginary line. These imaginary lines were carved only to prevent them from moving out of the riverine area.

Almost, all the land of these nce had been washed away by repeated flood and erosion of land in the state since 1967. It has compelled them to migrate to the plains for a livelihood, fueling phobias of land grabbing and Bangladeshi intrusion.

After Muslims, a large number of Bengali Hindu people too, who have also migrated to the state since the early part of the 20^th century, and even after partition of India in 1947, had to change their habitation as they failed to co-exist with the river. Apart from Bengali Muslims and Bengali Hindus, several thousands of Adivasis (tribals) from various upper Assam districts too are affected by this erosion and even a section of Scheduled Caste people, especially the fishing community of non-Muslims are similarly affected by this large-scale river erosion.

When Muslims were uprooted from their land due to erosion, they were tagged as land grabbers and Bangladeshi infiltrators. In the case of non-Muslims, who were forced to migrate due to land erosion, they became tools for communal propaganda.

So Ziad Ali and Nurul Islam from Rasulpur are only a few of the victims.  

67-year-old Islam, a resourceful person in the area recalls with pain, “Once people from our village were self-sustaining. But with all the land gone into the river, our younger generation is becoming migrant labourers in other states as there is no hope left here.” (1 acre= 3.025 bighas)

Rasulpur has diminished to a shadow of itself over decades. “No physical forms of our struggles and communal rejoicing moments that we had while harvesting, celebrating festivities or collaboration in ceremonies will be left” as Nurul pointed to the harmonious past days. No politician or official had visited the village during this year’s erosion reflecting “their indifference” to the issue.

The latest round of erosion of Rasulpur village by Beki River’s torrent started in May with the unseasonal rains and floods and has been continuing in the weeks since. Kadong Bazar used to be far away from Rasulpur but due to the continuous erosion, the gap between the market and the char narrowed down to only around 500 metres. In the latest wave of erosion, around 40 households were washed away at the village where a total of 102 families were residing according to Population Census 2011. 

At present, some of the eroded families have taken shelter near the roadside and some have dispersed to other areas in temporary settlements.Apart from losing the only livelihood option of cultivation, the families are also in distress as there is no land left for dispersed to build a house. “Earlier when erosion caused displacement, people who had some land away from the river offered fellow villagers to build a house and restart their life. Now almost the entire village is going down, so there is no land to offer. Where do we build a house now?”, asked 45-year-old Bahar Uddin.

Erosion by Beki

The Beki river basin, streamed by the Himalayan glaciers from Bhutan, originates from Mathanguri in Manas reserve forest and flows in Assam through Chirang and Barpeta districts (north-western districts of Assam) before merging with the Brahmaputra near Balajan area of the later district.

Flowing 85 km from Bhutan and draining around 26,243 square kilometres, Beki River causes a high magnitude of flood and erosion, usually due to heavy rainfall in the upper reaches of the Himalayas and sometimes due to the release of excess water from Kurissu dam in Bhutan.

According to a detailed project report by the Water Resource Department of Assam, massive floods and erosions devastated the district in 2004, 2007, 2009, 2015 and 2016 making hundreds of families internally displaced peoples. Since then the department has prepared a project worth more than Rs 400 crore to contain the erosion of Beki River as Assam government’s data tabled in the assembly.

In order to rehabilitate the erosion-affected homeless and landless people in Assam, the state government in its special scheme in 2021 to provide rehabilitation to erosion-affected families set up a mechanism for providing the relief measures in monetary value. It mentions that the erosion-affected families need to submit an application to the concerned circle officer for verification and the circle officer would verify the application from land records as well as through field verification by Lot Mandal. However, due to illiteracy and unawareness, the villagers from the Barpeta district obtained neither an erosion-affected person certificate nor a rehabilitation package. 

It is crucial that these important documents and benefits for the erosion-affected families, especially for char dwellers, are made available to affected families. Erosion certificates or government benefits provide a legal document for the people who are to be labelled as illegal immigrants or illegal encroachers. In both situations, the documents can prove their previous habitat and fend off the tags of illegal settlers or Bangladeshi migrants.

Related:

EXCLUSIVE! River erosion washes away over 35 percent of Assam’s agricultural land

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Image Courtesy: PTI

Deadly Flooding in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
Thousands Displaced by Floods in Rajasthan
45,000 Displaced by Floods in Madhya Pradesh
Heavy Rain and Floods Cause Major Disruption in Mumbai
More Flooding in Odisha after 600mm of Rain in 24 Hours
Airport Closed, 20,000 Evacuated as Floods Hit Kerala

These glaring headlines making the news portray just some of the flood disasters that have taken place in India this year.

Just in the past week alone, at least 21 people were killed and nine others were stated to be missing after Pune and neighboring areas were hit by heavy rain and flash floods. Floodwaters swept across the Pune-Bengaluru highway and washed away cars. Around 150 homes had been damaged and more than 28,000 people across the state of Maharashtra were evacuated from their homes and housed in temporary camps.

In June 2019, over 700 people had been moved to relief camps in the state of Assam, after flooding caused by the overflowing Brahmaputra, Barak and Jia Bhoreli rivers. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), till 26 June 2019, flooding had affected around 5,000 people in 12 villages.

A red alert was issued in Assam on 15 July as 4,300,000 people across 30 of the state’s 33 districts were affected by floods. 15 have died and 80,000 were sheltering in 494 camps. There are still serious issues and complaints about inadequate rehabilitation with relation to the Assam floods.

Twelve districts in Bihar were badly affected by floods. A total of 2,000,000 people had been affected and 1,100,000 people displaced by the flood waters in 55 blocks in nine out of the 12 affected districts. September saw the second round of devastation in the state that had seen floods ravaging homes, villages and neighbourhoods in July, too. The state disaster management department had then said 82.12 lakh people under 1,241 panchayats of 106 blocks in the 13 districts have been affected by the flood and relief and rehabilitation work is going on in full swing.

In July 2019, heavy rainfall caused the breach of the Tiware Dam in Maharashtra, resulting in 18 deaths.

As of August 2, 2019, national authorities reported 5 fatalities in Vadodara City (Gujarat State), and over 5,700 evacuated as Vishwamitri river breached its banks and flooded the area.

It was also reported on August 10, 2019 that incessant rains coupled with the strong wind in Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra led to 76 deaths. Localised flooding also was reported from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh. In Kerala, 40 people were feared to be trapped under debris after a major landslide occurred in Malappuram district.

Torrential rains also triggered flash floods in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarkhand. At least 23 people had been killed in Himachal Pradesh, while 3 died and 22 were missing following a cloudburst in Uttarakhand. Over 670 roads, including 13 national highways were blocked across Himachal Pradesh, which received 1,065% higher than normal ‘single day rainfall’ on 18 August. Uttarakhand recorded a surplus of 159% in 24 hours with water, electricity and communication facilities being affected.

Punjab, which is popularly called the food bowl of India, had also been hit hard by the recent floods. The situation in parts of Punjab and Haryana remained grim, prompting the Punjab government to declare the flood situation in the affected villages of the state a natural calamity.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rescued more than 4,000 people from flood waters in Patna two days ago.

Voices of the Stranded
“Water enters our houses and destroys everything. We stay in the same difficult situation without food and water. If someone falls sick, women suffer in labour pain or someone gets in serious condition, we call people and wait for them for help. Every year we face these challenges”, shared Pabitra Chetri from Dejoo Sapori village under North Lakhimpur district of Assam.

Ravi Ranjan, who lives in Kankarbagh, in Patna, said, “Everything is under water, there is only water everywhere, all the cars are submerged, all the schools and offices are closed because of this rain. We can’t go out we can only see water everywhere.”

Another flood victim in Hamirpur’s Kuchecha village, 65-year-old Ram Sakhi told India Today TV that houses and crops of all the residents, including her, in the village have been damaged due to the floods. She said “no one is there” to help the flood-affected residents in the village.

Another survivor, Brajesh, said, “There is no route to enter these villages and even the boats cannot go due to the strong flow of water from both Yamuna and Betwa rivers. Crops have been damaged here and most of the people living in these villages have been shifted to other areas with their belongings and cattle.”
Akan Gowala, 30, and seven family members spent 27 days in a relief camp in the Jamuguri area of flood-ravged Golaghat. “My house is half-buried in slush”, he said racked by fever, cough and a skin infection.

Why Did the Flash Floods Happen in India?
The timeline of extreme natural calamities started from May when a powerful cyclone roared through Odisha with wind speeds of up to 130 mph. It was the most dangerous storm in recent years.

Weather website El Dorado said that out of the 15 places that had received the most rainfall across the globe on the day of August 11, eight were in India. Naliya, a town in Gujarat, received a record 10.3 inch rainfall, followed by Okha (Gujarat, 6.54 inch), Rajkot (Gujarat, 5.83 inch), Mahabaleshwar (Maharashtra, 5.59 inch), Cochin (Kerala, 4.97 inch), Alappuzha (Kerala, 4.45 inch) and Kozhikode (Kerala, 4.57 inch).

Scientists say that the effects of such events would be higher in the future due to the loss of natural infrastructure as well as the ever-expanding human settlements. Multi-decade rain deficit to rising temperatures have shaken up the usual weather patterns. The ministry of earth sciences, India, has also confirmed that the year 2018 was the sixth warmest year on record since nation-wide records commenced in 1901. However, it was lower than the warmest year of 2016.

According to the report by the Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA), in its sectoral and regional analysis for the 2030s, rise in temperatures would increase flood events in frequency during the end of the century. The report stated, Temperatures in the Himalayan region are projected to rise up to 2.6 degrees Celsius and also increase in intensity by 2-12 per cent by 2030s. This will result in increased flash floods events leading to large scale landslides and loss of agriculture area affecting food security.

The trend of deficient rainfall and floods has been a worrying one.

According to the IMD, on July 6, when Baksa district in Assam was flooding, the deficit in North East was 38 per cent.

From June 20 to June 26, Mumbai had received only 8.4 mm rainfall, a deficit of 95 per cent. But, extreme rainfall in the last week of June caused floods in the city.

Kerala, which experienced floods killing more than 500 people, last year also faced a dormant monsoon before the rains began, which did not stop for almost two weeks.

Global rainfall data for over the last century also shows an alarming trend. While the number of rainy days is decreasing, intense rainfall events of 10 – 15 centimeter per day are increasing. This means that more amount of water is pouring down in a lesser time.

How is the increase in the frequency of extreme events sustained despite a weakened monsoon circulation and a decrease in the number of depressions over central India?

Widespread extreme rain events over Central India have increased three-fold in the 66-year period between 1950 and 2015, showed a study published in the journal Nature Communications. Inferring from a few studies, the report states that the rise in extreme rainfall events over central India is due to an increase in the moisture content, which they link to the rapid warming of the Indian Ocean. Other studies suggest that the local surface warming of the Indian subcontinent and the corresponding rise in humidity levels have a role in the increasing frequency of events.

What Does the Future Hold for Us?
It is a gross and devastating irony that people praying for some rainfall all over the country, were soon reeling under a deluge.

Extreme events may be the most tangible and immediate impact of climate change, but another more long-term and equally dangerous effect is rising temperatures. If climate change continues unhindered, then average temperatures in India could reach as high as 29.1° C by the end of the century (up from 25.1° C currently).

A region’s vulnerability to temperature changes depends on several factors such as access to infrastructure (electricity, roads and water connections) and dependence on agriculture. According to the World Bank, central districts in India are the most vulnerable to climate change because they lack the infrastructure and are largely agrarian. Within this region, the districts in Maharasthra’s Vidarbha region are particularly susceptible to climate change damage.

Climate change has also manifested itself in the form of extreme temperatures. In cities, which are epicenters of economic activity, rising temperatures can increase the spread of diseases and hurt productivity. And, in coastal cities, climate change-induced rising sea levels also pose an additional threat through more frequent flooding.

Despite significant outlay on flood control, flood protection and catchment protection works, it has been found that there is no complete solution to providing total protection. Flood cushions in the reservoirs and flood embankments have provided good solutions for recurring floods and have provided relief to large-scale flood damage.
 
 

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The people of Madhya Pradesh are facing a huge crisis due to the floods caused by the Sardar Sarovar Dam. The dam, which is built on Narmada river, was inaugurated by PM Modi in 2017. Presently, thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes and live in tin sheds provided by the government where they are not even getting the basic amenities by the government. Meanwhile, grand celebrations have been planned for Modi’s 69th birthday amid the sufferings of thousands of people.

Courtesy: News Click

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Detailed updates from ground level activists of the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) reveal that the water levels in Sardar Sarovar dam is rising fast owing to the Gujarat government’s decision to fill the reservoir to 138.68 meter over the course of the next 50 days, to the full reservoir level (FRL) of the reservoir. Media reports statethat the government will “regulate” the flows in “such a manner that the water level will rise by 0.30 m every 48 hours.

This year, the situation on the ground, is increasingly reaching an alarming level. On August 12, activists have reported that two people died because of electric shock from the water. They predict large scale destruction over the next few days. Activists with the NBA have demanded that water level rise should be stopped at 122 meters; also that court orders related to the protection and rehabilitation of people living in downstream and upstream (dam) areas should be followed. Today, women and men activists, under the banner of “JeevanRekhaAndolan” have blocked the Agra-Delhi Highway demanding that the government restricts the water levels to 122 meters. There are reports emerging of considerable violence unleashed on the protesters as we go to press.

In a detailed press note issued on Monday, NBA activists have predicted that if the water level keeps increasing at this alarming speed, as many as 32,000 families stand at the risk of facing a “water calamity”.The water level touched an unprecedented limit at 131.50 m on Friday. After this, the government released six lakh cusecs of water into the downstream and the Narmada main canal. Ten gates were opened on Friday, first time ever since independence.
 
The managing director Rajiv Gupta of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL) reportedlysaidthat it was “essential to test the dam at full reservoir level” as this had not been done since the gates were installed in 2017.” He added,  “The state government will adhere to the norms laid down in the dam safety manual while filling the dam to FRL in the next 50 days.” Notably, in his own words dam hasn’t been “tested at FRL because of deficient rainfall in earlier years.”However, past experience suggests that authorities are usually ill prepared to handle any disasters which may come in the way, especially a flood like situation.

Chief minister Vijay Rupani even performed a “puja” at the dam site on Friday, August 000 to ‘mark’ the 131.50 m ‘milestone’. According to a Times of India report, in Surat at least 2300 families were shifted to safer locations from different areas located on the Narmada River in Bharuch district on Friday
A press release issued by Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) on August 12 highlights the gravity of the situation. Activists have claimed that Narmada is flowing at a level of 9 meters above the danger level. And that it has reached the villages which have been impacted by the Sardar Sarovar dam.In the Manavar tehsil, more than 4000 families are settled in 17 villages and haven’t been rehabilitated properly, they claim. In villages such as Kavathi, Uradana, Ekalbara, Gangli etc., the path leading to the farmland has been blocked as water has entered the fields. Activists have claimed that this is a “flood like situation”.
Many of these villages, according to the chief minister’s own reported statements are yet to be compensated upto an amount of Rs. 5,80,000 as per the directives of a Supreme Court order of February 8, 2017.Moreover, the places which were allotted as compensation and rehabilitation remain deprived off basic amenities such as water, electricity, road connectivity etc.

As the tributaries of river Narmada are also filled upto the brim, the situation is quickly escalating at an alarming rate. The NBA has also observed, “If the water level goes beyond 138 meters, then many thousands of families will get submerged without rehabilitation of a house or land.” “In such a situation, where will people go?” it asked.

Further, the press release said,the route to the hamlets located in lower regions of village Ekkalbara are filled with waters from the backwater. The villagers are completely blocked from all sides, and because of this, even for their basic needs, the villagers have to risk their lives in order to get the basic ration etc. One villager named Galsing who went to purchase ration escaped death by a margin. Despite this serious situation, as per the NBA activists, nobody has come to survey or study the area. The village’s approximately 80 percent or 3000 acre land is completely surrounded by water from all sides.

The fields in villages Kavathi and Gangli have been submerged because of Narmada water. Kavathi too, has been turned into an island. A Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report had highlighted how there were discrepancies in execution of works like granting of tenders and unjustified, higher payments that caused financial losses to the government.

Another very important fact is that most river dams, which may flood if they fail, were not prepared for disaster management. The same CAG report revealed that only 349 dams out of 4862 completed dams in the country have emergency disaster management plans.

To ensure the proper inspection, maintenance and surveillance of existing dams, the Dam Safety Legislation was initiated in 2010. The policy remains on paper, yet to be given the shape of law and enacted, even in August 2016, the CAG report had stated. In most states, pre and post monsoon inspections weren’t carried out. Programmes for maintenance of dams were not prepared and adequate funds were not provided to carry out structural/repair works.

An analytical report published in 2015 had pointed out that one problem faced “by dam operators is that filling the reservoir early in the monsoon may result in excess discharge and floods later on”. In 2015, in the case of Hirakud dam on the river Mahanadi, a large quantum release from its reservoir displaced as many as two million people in 20 of state’s 30 districts. The India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) analysis of the data of the past 100 years says there is no deviation, suggesting a significant change in rainfall patterns. Ajit Tyagi, director general of IMD, however, noted, “But yes, excessive variability and localised events towards end-August and September are forcing release of huge quantum of water from dam reservoirs”.

A DownToEarth report hashighlighted activists’ concerns that the operators sitting in hot spot are often slow in reacting to information on inflow of water and rainfall in the catchment. It also noted the “typical” response by authorities, “there was a sudden influx of water due to incessant rains in the catchment; there is no way to avert these disasters”

There is also much debate around the entrenched belief that building dams actually help in preventing floods. As per Shripad Dharamdhikari, founder of Manthan Adhyayan Kendra, a non-profit that researches water issues, one problem with dams “is that they attenuate lower magnitude floodwater, thereby creating a sense of security. So when the peak floods come, the damage is far greater than otherwise”.

Experts have also predicted that as climate change occurs, flood situations are likely to worsen due to poor management of dams.

A committee constituted by the Ministry of Irrigation in the 1980s to review the existing practices of maintenance of dams in various states and to evolve standard guidelines for the same, said in a report published in 1982, “it is essential to release water as soon as flood-like situations develop.” The report admits that “the existence of a dam upstream of the floodplain may either mitigate the extent of the calamity or accentuate it.” It is essential, therefore, to develop operating rules with built-in factor of safety and adequate and efficient warning system to formulate accurate forecasts on the time lag when rain in the catchment results in increased inflow to the reservoir.”

In 2015, 96 dams in Gujarat were puton high alert following heavy rainfall on the evening of September 11, many of them were full to their capacities, including the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam in Kevadia.
 

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 A view of submerged buildings along the Pune-Bangalore National Highway due to overflowing Koyna River, in Karad. (PTI Photo)
 
In a situation which doesn’t seem to have a recent precedent, Maharashtra is facing massive floods, something that the political mainstream appears to be silent on.

Disturbing visuals of furious rainwater and floods have emerged from various parts of the state. Huge patches of lands have been submerged, women, elderly, children have been stranded at various places. Roadways and trains have been disrupted. So have been other means of transport or rescue operations. The skies are grey and dark and don’t seem to be clearing anytime soon.

Maharashtra has received 104 percent of the average rainfall between June and August this year even as Marathawda and parts of Vidarbha still face rain deficiency.

The Konkan and Western Maharashtra regions have received heavy downpour since July 26 and the flood situation in Kolhapur seems to be critical. It also said that Sangli recorded most rainfall followed by Satara and Pune.

Per a Financial Express report, 2.5 lakh people have been evacuated. As of today, Thursday, the flood situation has worsened in Maharashtra’s Sangli with water entering the district prisons and the authorities shifting prisoners to the upper floor.

Twenty-nine people have already  died due to floods in Maharashtra. 11 people have died in Sangli, four in Kolhapur, six in Pune, seven in Satara, one in Solapur.
However official statement by Divisional Commissioner of Pune Division, Deepak Mhaisekar says, “Four people died in Pune, seven in Satara, two in Sangli, two in Kolhapur and one in Solapur.” Hence exact number of casualties remains unknown at this moment.
 
The statement said that a total of 1,32,360 people from 28,397 families have been evacuated from these districts. More than 500 passengers are stranded in Kolhapur’s Kini village.
The situation has been made more severe because all dams of Pune, Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur are hundred percent full and all riverside villages of Pune district are under high alert.
Because of the rain scare, all school and colleges remained closed in Sangli, Satara and Kolhapur. The rains have been incessant and this has created water logging and flood-like situation in many places.

It has been reported that rescue and relief operations are underway, however it is hard to assess the exact status of these operations at this moment.

Airlifting operations had to be aborted due to “unfavourable” weather conditions. In Sangli itself, twelve people died and three went missing after a 20 capacity boat capsized. Following the tragedy, the officials decided not to hire private boats for rescue operations.
Additionally, on Thursday, two Coast Guard Dorniers landed after several attempts and an AN-32 of the IAF had to undertake five go-arounds before making a successful landing. A Chetak helicopter sent from Ratnagiri could not even cross the ghats. Reportedly, the Dorniers left for Goa after offloading relief equipment from Mumbai. Coast Guard Inspector General Vijay Chafekar said that they will be sent to Kolhapur again with lifejackets on Friday. Defence spokesperson Mehul Karnik said five rescue teams were despatched from Santacruz but they could not fly due to inclement weather in Kolhapur.

Rescue operations have been said to be underway by Army personnel in Raigad district, Sangli and Kolhapur districts. Additionally, four teams of Territorial Army has been said to be deployed in Kolhapur and one in Sangli district.

The Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s response has come on only Thursday (August 8) in which he has said that the Karnataka government had agreed to discharge five lakh cusec water from Almatti dam on the Krishna river. However, the state Congress president Balasaheb Thorat demanded an all-party meeting to discuss the ongoing flood situation. Fadnavis also faced flak from opposition on Tuesday, for carrying on with his maha Janadesh Yatra, in preparation of the Assembly elections. Afterwards, he called for a review meeting on Thursday.

Merely a month back, Maharashtra was reeling under the pressures of a drought situation that was refusing to end. Monsoons were delayed in rural Maharashtra which left the dams with a water capacity of just 6.61%. As many as approximately 6290 tankers were used to supply water to 4920 villages and 10506 hamlets.

And when monsoons finally hit the state, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted that the monsoon would be ‘vigorous for the next four to five days.’

As per the Drought Early Warning System, as of the initial weeks of June, 43.4 percent of India was reeling under drought with Maharashtra and Karnataka being the two worst affected states. As many as an estimated 72 percent of Maharashtra were hit hit by drought. This caused a grave crisis to the livelihood of 8.2 million farmers.

Water availability dropped to single digits in Nagpur, Amravati divisions; Aurangabad division, Nashik division and Pune division, except for the Konkan region. The Marathwada region under the Aurangabad division was the worst affected. Reportedly “tanker mafia” benefited from this crisis. Moreover, there were reports of large scale corruption in drought camps run for the cattle affecting the livestock of the farmers.

Reportedly, the situation until about three weeks back was so bad that the state government was considering option to include artificial rain for temporary relief.

This huge and sudden change in the weather reflects a looming climate change crisis that is irreversible.
           
As of now, the primary concerns remain to get people to safer grounds with essentials like power, food and water.

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The floods in Kerala has wreaked havoc on the entire state and plunged the state into an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. With over 243 people dead since August 8,2018 , and above 725000 people living 5645 relief camps, and thousands of houses destroyed or rendered unfit for habitation, the impact on the lives and livelihoods of the affected families is going to be catastrophic. The government, the armed forces, police, fire-force, humanitarian relief agencies and volunteers from civil society (with special mention of the fisher-folk who have rendered heroic service) have been working round the clock to deal with this humanitarian emergency selflessly and efficiently to rescue people still stranded in remote and inaccessible locations, restore communication and road access, to mobilize relief material, health services for the relief camps. The stories of heroic rescue, relief goods pouring in locally as well as from all parts of the country – all point to the human generosity and heart-warming solidarity with those affected by this disaster.

A disaster affects all people, but it affects those who are socially, politically and economically vulnerable far more seriously. The vulnerability of those communities that are voiceless in normal times is magnified during times of disaster. This is true for those that not able to access their rights and entitlements in normal times due to caste based discrimination, geo-cultural marginalization, and lack of political representation. They are invisible and silent during disasters, and many a time devoid of the means of communication, social networking and collective representation to get themselves rescued and access to adequate relief. Those from the privileged sections of society are able to build back their lives much faster; but those from the underprivileged sections take much longer to do so.

This has been borne out by the experiences of relief agencies and formal studies over the years – Gujarat earthquake (2002), Tsunami (2004) Assam floods over several years (particularly 2009 and 2012) Thane Cyclone i(2012), Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka floods (2009), Odisha floods (2011)&Phailin (2013), Uttrakhand Floods (2013) , J & K Floods (2013) , Hudhud Cyclone (2014) , Odisha Floods (2014) , Gujarat and Tamil Nadu Floods (2015). These experiences and studies have all revealed how Dalit, Adivasi and other most marginalized communities have been excluded from rescue and relief in a significant manner. In most cases we also see biases in relief provision in terms of gender, age, religion and region. The special needs of women, children, the aged, the physically and mentally challenged and migrant laborers too are by default overlooked. This form of exclusion happens by default and is not recognized by most people. There are common faulty notions of disaster response being caste/gender neutral; but it has been established conclusively that it is not.

Taking into account this knowledge and experience that we have accumulated through decades of humanitarian relief and rehabilitation work, Kerala Alliance of Dalits- Adivasis for Post- Disaster Engagements and Monitoring appeal to the government of Kerala and all its agencies, and all the humanitarian agencies engaged in rescue and relief work to recognize this discrimination/exclusion of Dalits/Adivasis/most marginalized communities and incorporate a proactive approach to reach out to such communities consciously. We also appeal that the government and humanitarian agencies explicitly incorporate this understanding of inclusion in their assessment and reporting instruments. Transparent, disaggregated reporting, on the basis of caste, gender, age, disability and special (marginalized) groups of the relief goods and services provided would go a long way in ensuring that disaster response, relief and rehabilitation measures are humane, inclusive, fair and just.

Ajaykumar VB – Kerala Alliance of Dalits- Adivasis for Post- Disaster Engagements and Monitoring

This article was first publish on countercurrents.org.
 

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As many as 107,487 people died due to heavy rains and floods across India over 64 years between 1953 and 2017, according to Central Water Commission data presented to the Rajya Sabha (Parliament’s upper house) on March 19, 2018. Damage to crops, houses and public utilities was reported to be Rs 365,860 crore–or as much as 3% of India’s current gross domestic product–the data show.
 
“The main reasons of floods have been assessed as high intensity rainfall in short duration, poor or inadequate drainage capacity, unplanned reservoir regulation and failure of flood control structures,” according to the reply to the Rajya Sabha.
 
With heavy rains sweeping western India, many cities such as Mangaluru, Mumbai and  Junagarh have flooded during the 2018 monsoon season. Over 30 people died in floods that inundated 58 villages, The Times of India reported on July 7, 2018.  
 
Climate change will exacerbate flooding
 
“Temperatures have been rising across the [South Asia] region, and are projected to continue increasing for the next several decades under all plausible climate scenarios,” the World Bank study, published on June 28, 2018, said.  
 
These changes will result in more frequent flooding, greater water demand and increased heat-related medical issues.
 
South Asian cities such as Kolkata, Mumbai, Dhaka and Karachi–that are home to over 50 million people–face a substantial risk of flood-related damage over the next century, the report said.
 
India is one of the world’s most vulnerable regions to climate change. It has increased the frequency of downpours as well as the gaps between rainy days during the monsoon, as IndiaSpend reported in January 2018 and February 2018.
 
As India’s climate warms, extreme weather, such as intense rain and floods, is predicted to worsen.
 
The new World Bank study mentioned above said the worst affected states by 2050 would be Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Seven of the 10 most affected districts will belong to Vidarbha, Maharashtra.
 
India could see a six-fold increase in population exposed to the risk of severe floods by 2040–to 25 million people from 3.7 million facing this risk between 1971 and 2004, IndiaSpend reported in February 2018, based on a study published in Science Advances, a peer-reviewed journal.
 
“India is highly vulnerable to floods,” according to the National Disaster Management Authority, a government body. “Out of the total geographical area of 329 million hectares (mha), more than 40 mha is flood prone.”
 
Most deaths (11,316) due to floods/heavy rains in India were reported in 1977, while the least were recorded in 1953 (37).

 
Over 1,600 people die every year due to floods, affecting nearly 32 million people. More than 92,000 cattles are lost every year, seven million hectares of land is affected, and damage is over Rs 5,600 crore.
 
“High losses from floods reflect India’s inadequacy to cope with the current variability in climate, let alone future climate change,” Ashvani Kumar Gosain, professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, told IndiaSpend in February 2018.
 
States that are flood-prone include West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab.
 
“Intense rains during the monsoon season cause rivers like Brahmaputra, Ganga and Yamuna to swell their banks, which in turn floods the adjacent areas,” according to this reply to the Lok Sabha (lower house of Parliament) on April 4, 2018.
 

Source: National Disaster Management Authority
 
There are 226 flood forecasting stations across 20 states, two union territories and 19 river basins to monitor floods in the country. The government plans to expand the network to 325 stations by March 2020.
 
(Mallapur is an analyst with IndiaSpend.)

Courtesy: India
 

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Marjadi village in Pashchim Champaran is surrounded by rivers o all four sides. It faced unprecedented flash flood in the intervening night of Aug 12-13.

 
There are over 350 families living in Marjadi and they are quite used to the rise and fall in the waters of these pahadi [hill] rivers that come from Nepal.
 
However, the ferocity of the floods that nearly drowned the village in the intervening night of August 12 and August 13 this year left even disaster-prone Marjadi stunned.
 
At around 6pm on August 12, it started to rain heavily and the downpour continued till the next morning. “By 11 pm, there was chest-high water gushing fast through the village,” said Narendra Ram, a Marjadi resident. “People panicked and ran to the roofs of pucca houses and spent the night there.”
 
The water level in the village had crossed six feet.
 
“All our stored grains, cattle, clothes, everything had been washed away,” said Chanda Devi, who had to be rescued by her fellow villagers as the waters rose outside her home.
 

Chanda Devi of Marjadi was caught in the rising flood water along with her two young children. They were rescued by fellow villagers as water level crossed 6-feet (mark on the wall of the house) in the village.
 
“I am over 80-years-old and have seen many floods, but the night of August 12 was nothing but pralay [apocalyptic deluge]. Had the downstream Triveni canal not breached, our entire village would have washed away,” said Jagan Ram, an old resident. “Pran ke ilawa gaon main kuch nahi bacha hai [Only human beings are left in the village].”
 
Last month, Bihar faced massive floods, as all the major rivers of north Bihar – including the Gandak, Burhi Gandak, Bagmati, and Kosi — rose due to heavy rainfall in the Terai region. The floods affected 17.1 million people in 19 districts of north Bihar, killing 514.
 
More than 73% of Bihar’s 94,163 sq km area is flood-prone. The problem is particularly acute in north Bihar, where almost 76% of the population–about 50 million people–lives under the constant threat of floods. Of these, those who live along the India-Nepal border deal with an additional danger — unpredictable flash floods originating from the rivers that flow down from the Himalayas across the border.
 
These flash floods that routinely affect the districts of Pashchim and Poorvi Champaran, Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Araria and Kishanganj are ancient affairs. But, local villagers and the state government officials claim that these floods are becoming more frequent because of climate change.
 
“Bihar is facing  the impact of climate change, rainfall patterns here are getting disturbed. Rains come in bouts followed by long dry spells. We not only face more floods, but also have rising incidence of droughts in the state,” said Vyas Ji, vice-chairperson of Bihar State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA).
 
Flash floods in Bihar escape national attention because the focus of flood control and management is limited to big rivers such as Kosi, Gandak, Bagmati, and so on. But they need immediate attention because those affected by these flash floods are among India’s poorest.
 
The per capita income (2011-12) in north Bihar’s six flash-flood affected districts is less than Rs 10,000, as per the ‘Economic Survey 2015-16’ of the government of Bihar. In contrast, the per capita income of Patna district is Rs 63,063.
 
The infant mortality rate (number of deaths of children under one year age per 1,000 live births) of these six districts ranges between 48 and 60, as per the Annual Health Survey 2012-13; Factsheet Bihar. The under-five mortality rate (probability of children dying between birth and five years age per 1,000 live births) in Sitamarhi is as high as 97 followed by 84 in Kishanganj, 76 in Araia and 72 in Pashchim Champaran. India’s average under five mortality rate is 50 per 1,000 li, ve births.
 
These frequent disasters trap people in a seemingly endless cycle of floods, poverty, indebtedness, low living standards and more floods, IndiaSpend investigations showed.
 
Why flash floods need a different plan of action
 
Flash floods and their aftermath need to be dealt with differently from riverine floods. Their character, behaviour, impact, occurrence and frequency are distinct from the big, riverine floods for which the government has an established protocol for rescue, relief and compensation.
 
For one, flash floods are not driven only by the monsoon; a heavy and steady downpour can unleash a torrent from the mountain rivers. Five Terai villages in Bihar visited by this reporter endure between 15 to 60 flash floods every year.
 
The waters tear in at high velocity with little warning, causing widespread destruction, wrecking houses, sweeping away cattle, damaging both standing and stored crops, eroding the soil and destroying farm bunds.
 

Triveni Canal breached due to the high velocity floodwater of Harbora river, providing respite to Marjadi village which would have otherwise washed away due to the rising waters.
 
The waters recede fairly quickly–within four to eight hours –unlike riverine deluges, but the destruction is as much.
 
Since they occur frequently, the damage caused needs to be assessed quickly and compensation packages disbursed fast, so people can resume their lives.
 
However, IndiaSpend’s extensive conversations with villagers across the Terai showed that this is rarely the case.
 
Small rivers, big havoc
 
The only thing separating Bhiknathori, a village on the border of the Valmiki Tiger Reserve, from Nepal is Pandai, a hill river that comes from across the international border. It flows along Bhiknathori to meet the Sikrana river, also known as the Burhi Gandak. The night of August 12 also brought unprecedented floods to Bhiknathori, a village of 165 households.
 

The Pandai, a hilly river, comes from Nepal and flows along the India-Nepal border to later join the Burhi Gandak River. The Pandai brought massive flash flood to Bhikhnathori village and eroded 31 households.
 
“Minutes before the flood, we heard gargarahat [loud thunderous noise] of large stones coming along with the flood waters,” said Kalan Khan, 82. “The river water had turned yellowish brown and we could see the Pandai jumping high and coming towards our village. We ran for our lives.”
 
Pandai’s waters eroded over 50-70 square feet of land, including 31 houses, an ancient temple and two government guest houses. A substantive part of Bhiknathori’s market was also washed away, said Dayanand Sahni, 60, a former mukhiya (head) of Dhamaura panchayat.
 
Nilesh Deore, the district magistrate of Pashchim Champaran, admitted that the floods caused unexpected devastation this year. “Our district is flood-prone and we had stationed rescue boats along the main Gandak river. But, this year the pahadi rivers, the tributaries of Gandak and Burhi Gandak, brought massive flash floods in areas we had never imagined to be affected.”
 
The state chief minister, Nitish Kumar, too said the recent disaster was “akin to flash floods”.
 
No one notices unseasonal floods, allege villagers
 
Whereas the government believes that the recent flash floods are a one-off event, the villagers living along the India-Nepal border told IndiaSpend that they have been dealing with them for years, and multiple times in a year.
 
“We face floods some 15-20 times in a year, but these are localised flash floods and never make it to the official records,” said Vinita Kumari, a resident of Poorvi Tola Rupwaliya village in Gaunaha block.
 
“Flash floods are directly proportional to the rainfall in the upper catchment area,” said Eklavya Prasad, managing trustee of Megh Pyne Abhiyan (MPA), a non-profit working on water and sanitation issues in the north Bihar. “Mostly flash floods go unreported because they do not always occur during the flood season.”
 
Last December, MPA carried out a study titled ‘Post Disaster Recovery: Assessment of Needs in Moderate Flood Conditions’ in Pashchim Champaran, Khagaria and Saharsa districts of north Bihar. It found that the small, pahadi rivers report flash floods up to 50-60 times in a year, causing extensive damage to property and crops destruction.
 
Take the case of Chegraha River that regularly brings floods Harkatwa village in Rupwaliya panchayat of Gaunaha between January and October. The normal width of the river is approximately 60 meters but this increases to 500-700m during monsoon and on days of heavy precipitation.
 
Harkatwa’s grief: 60 floods a year
 

Heavily silted paddy fields in Gaunaha block of Pashchim Champaran.
 
Last year, Harkatwa faced 60 instances of flash floods. In the last 10 years, it has had 450 flash floods. Annually, the villagers lose over 50 acres of standing paddy crop, which amounts to a loss of Rs 720,000 per year. Sugarcane worth Rs 262,500 too is lost to flash floods every year.
 

Standing sugarcane crop destroyed due to floodwaters in Pashchim Champaran.
 
Floods annually wash away stored foodgrains in Harkatwa – it has lost paddy worth Rs 540,000, wheat worth Rs 225,000 and pulses worth Rs 56,000 every year in this manner, according to the MPA study.
 
To deal with recurring crop losses, villagers regularly take private loans. The annual collective indebtedness caused by flash floods in Pashchimi Tola Rupwaliya village in Gaunaha block is estimated at Rs 10,08,000. For Naya Tola Manguraha, Poorvi Tola Rupwaliya and Manguraha villages, this figure is Rs 240,000, Rs 560,000, and Rs 720,000 respectively.
 
The total annual average financial loss due to recurring flash floods in Pashchimi Tola Rupwaliya village is estimated to be Rs 12,16,000. For Naya Tola Manguraha village, Poorvi Tola Rupwaliya and Manguraha village, the total annual losses are pegged at Rs 4,79,610, Rs 6,16,675 and Rs 13,89,050, respectively.
 
These losses are neither officially recorded nor compensated, said Prasad.
 
Source: Based on data in Post Disaster Recovery: Assessment of needs in moderate flood conditions in Pashchim Champaran, Megh Pyne Abhiyan, December 2016.
 
Source: Based on data in Post Disaster Recovery: Assessment of needs in moderate flood conditions in Pashchim Champaran, Megh Pyne Abhiyan, December 2016.
 
Source: Based on data in Post Disaster Recovery: Assessment of needs in moderate flood conditions in Pashchim Champaran, Megh Pyne Abhiyan, December 2016.
 
Source: Based on data in Post Disaster Recovery: Assessment of needs in moderate flood conditions in Pashchim Champaran, Megh Pyne Abhiyan, December 2016.
 
Source: Based on data in Post Disaster Recovery: Assessment of needs in moderate flood conditions in Pashchim Champaran, Megh Pyne Abhiyan, December 2016.
 
Source: Based on data in Post Disaster Recovery: Assessment of needs in moderate flood conditions in Pashchim Champaran, Megh Pyne Abhiyan, December 2016.
 
600 kg of paddy, 1 quintal of wheat — what Sushila Devi lost to the last flood
 
Villagers along the India-Nepal border alleged that they do not receive any compensation for their recurring losses. “In the 1986 flood, five houses were washed away in our village, and then in 2010, another seven. But, no one has received any compensation,” said Puna Singh, secretary of the village forest rights committee, Bhiknathori.
 
Ramsheela Devi, ward member of Bhiknathori, claimed she lost her kuccha house in the 2010 flood. “How long can we wait for government assistance? We rebuild and move on,” said Madhu Devi, who too lost her house in the 2010 flood.
 

Ramsheela Devi of Bhiknathori village, with her husband and Madhu Devi.
 
Residents of Poorvi Tola Rupwaliya claimed that they have suffered huge losses in the recent floods. “So far this year, we have had 11 flash floods, but haven’t received a paisa of compensation,” said Sushila Devi who lost about 600 kg of paddy, 60-70 kg of rice and 1 quintal of wheat in the recent floods.
 
Bihar government officials claim the state has an elaborate compensation package that goes beyond the Centre’s assistance. “The Centre does not provide gratuitous relief if flood-affected people are moved to shelter homes. But, we give Rs 9,800 gratuitous relief per family if the house is lost and even if the family is in shelter home,” said Vyas Ji.
 

Vyas ji, Vice Chairman of Bihar State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA)
 
“If a pucca house is fully damaged there is compensation of Rs 95,100 and if 15% of it is damaged we pay Rs 5,200. For a kucha jhonpdi (shack) we pay a compensation of Rs 41,000,” said Deore.
 
The compensation requires photographic evidence — of how a damaged house looked before the flood or of dead cattle — that villagers said is hard to procure. “How do we photograph washed away, dead cattle?” asked Kishore Paswan of Marjadi.
 

Residents of Marjadi claim that the flooded rivers brought huge amounts of silt (sand) and have deposited 2-feet sand on their paddy and sugarcane fields.
 
“We have recently received a compensation of Rs 6,000 per household in our tola for house damage during the recent floods. This is the first time we have received any money from the government,” said Vinita Kumari of Poorvi Tola Rupwaliya. Her tola [hamlet] has faced 394 flash floods in the last 10 years, excluding the 11 this year.
 
Compensation for crop damage for maximum two hectares ranges between Rs 6,800 per hectare (ha) and Rs 18,000 per ha. “On paper, the government has a nice compensation package, but we never benefit from it. We have lost 200 cattle and over 150 goats in the recent floods,” said Kishore Paswan of Marjadi.
 
Why Bihar needs to act fast
 
What can be done? First, it is important to recognise flash floods as a distinct phenomenon requiring different relief and compensation strategy.
 
Secondly, there is need for effective weather warning. For instance, between August 12 and August 13, Gaunaha block received 367 mm of rain within 24 hours. But villages along the India-Nepal border were not aware of the forecast.
Last, the habitat needs to be made flash-flood resilient given how often the waters swamp the villages. “Such a habitat should have various life-supporting systems for an early recovery from recurring phenomena that include health securities, safe drinking water and hygienic sanitation, flash-flood resilient housing, crop insurance schemes, skill development for flash-flood preparedness, and so on,” said Prasad.
 
Dealing with terrains like north Bihar requires alternate thinking on issues that connect ecology to lifestyle. A good example of this is the flood-resilient ecological sanitation toilet, phaydemand shauchalayas, built by MPA in the villages of Pashchim Champaran. Excreta and urine are separated in this system for use in fields as fertilisers and the water required is minimal. Unlike the soak-pit toilets with underground septic tanks being promoted by the government, these eco-toilets are built on a raised platform so these can be used even during the floods.
 
Climate change is leading to erratic rains and floods to Bihar, deputy chief minister of the state, Sushil Modi said recently and the cycle of frequent disasters is likely to worsen in coming years. Several districts, including flood-affected districts, are at present facing rainfall deficit.
 
The Bihar government cannot afford not to act.
 
(Jamwal is an independent journalist based in Mumbai.)

Courtesy: India Spend
 
 

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Mumbai rains flooded the city for a week, leaving thousands helpless while building collapsed killing dozens on August 31th. PUNIT PARANJPE / AFP

And the city of Mumbai was hit by another major flooding espisode. Several people have died in the city, many in the collapse of a four-storey building that is believed to have been weakened by the rains.
 

Overcrowded cities

Such loss of life in urban areas is often blamed on India’s overcrowding. Cities are growing at unprecedented rates. From a population of 2.86 million in 1950, Mumbai is now home to more than 21 million people, and is expected to have almost 28 million by 2030.
Built along the coastline on a series of islands, the city is surrounded by water: in mudflats, lakes, creeks, rivers, and the ever-present coastline.

Given the astronomical land prices in many parts of Mumbai, and the extreme scarcity of land, it is no surprise that Mumbai has sacrificed its ecology for development. Real estate projects, industry, and state infrastructure (railways, roads and the city’s airport) have built over, and choked, the city’s water networks at various strategic points. Every monsoon, the city floods.

Mudflats, wetlands, floodplains, mangroves and wooded vegetation once slowed down the flow of storm water. The mangrove’s complex root systems and the branching architecture of trees acted as a natural barrier to reduce the force of water flow. But now, they are built over. Garbage spread everywhere clogs the waterways. Most channels and waterways that connect water bodies have been built over too, resulting preventing streams from easily reaching the sea – forcing it to spread out into the low lying areas of the city, adding to the severe flooding.

Mumbai’s extensive wetlands and mudflats, which had connected parts of the city since the early 19th century, have disappeared. Their presence would retain the rain water and soak it into the ground, recharging the wells and ground water table.

Today, with nothing but concrete all around, the city’s land surface does not allow water to soak into it. In especially intense periods of rain, the devastation is extreme – at least 5000 people are believed to have perished in the infamous floods of 2005, and the economic damage was estimated at 30 billion rupees (US$690m).
 

The need for introspection

After the 2005 floods, a committee constituted by the government investigated the reasons for the devastation, concluding that there was an urgent need to restore Mumbai’s wetlands and water systems. In 2007, the municipality formulated the Greater Mumbai Action Plan, which among other efforts had a major focus on the restoration of the city’s main river, the Mithi, which had become little more than a sewage channel in parts.

Yet around the same time, the chair of the committee overseeing the plan, water expert Madhav Chitale spoke publicly about the lack of progress in implementing its recommendations. He said that the city lacked basic topographic data which were essential to build pathways for rainwater flow – which could have prevented flooding in subsequent rains.

Malad creek, suburban Mumbai, 2010. Ravi Khemka/Flickr, CC BY-SA

In recent years, climate scientists, urban specialists and civic society groups warned repeatedly that Mumbai was heading for another heavy flood. A combination of the greater likelihood of high rainfall events because of climate change, and an even more inadequately prepared city, created a situation ripe for a disaster in the making. These warnings came true this monsoon season.

Mumbai’s planners know that climate change is leading to increased likelihood of extreme rainfall, and that restoration of the city’s wetland, river and floodplain networks is central to flood control. Yet the rush to develop construction projections in the city has often disregarded these factors. Money cannot replace nature in cities. A careful reading of Indian urban history shows that cities have historically grown with nature providing a support system. When this system is eroded – as is seen in so many Indian cities today, including in Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai – the very survival of the city is placed in question.

The story of Mumbai today is a reflection of the ills that plague many Indian cities – and those in other parts of the world as well, such as Miami and Houston. In a wetter future, it is clearer than ever that cities need ecology to grow.

Harini Nagendra, Professor of Sustainability, Azim Premji University
 

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

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On the eve of the Independence Day celebration, people of the state got down-and-out due to water engulfing their rooms in no time. At least 20% of the population of West Bengal being dreadfully affected by this flood, and an official announcement of death toll crossing 150 lives, no one can see any practical relief initiative taken either by the TMC in power of the state or the BJP in power of the central. One can guaranty that whatever relief materials could be provided to the affected people necessary to save their lives have been entirely organized by several private initiatives and not by any of the governments.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Midnapurs, Bankura and Howrah of the south-west and from Maldah to two Dinajpurs along with Kochbihar, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar of the north Bengal are dangerously flooded apparently due to the recent heavy rain. Among these, Maldah, being nearest to the Farakka Barrage over the Ganges, has been under tremendous threat; however, in reality it has been terribly flooded, predominantly by Mahananda and other local rivers, unexpectedly overflowed due to water release of the barrages and some of the dams being broken down. Firstly, you have forced Nature against its nature, and then, you are Indifferent about its maintenance!

To express the situation in a little more detail, we can share our experience while working for flood relief in Maldah. On behalf of People’s Brigade, one of our teams went to an interior region of Nalagola situated at the border of Maldah and South Dinajpur. A number of croplands extended over more than 200 bighas have entirely been flooded by the rivers Purnabhaba and Tangan which generally exhibit a knee low water level. There was no central relief camp and all the families took shelter in a local school building. The Panchayat there is run by TMC and the MLA is from CPI(M) but none of them had taken any step for the affected people after repeated communications from them. All the families were rescued by a local private boat within one and a half day till August 15 midnight. Thereafter the government provided a single rescue-boat for the two districts which was withdrawn on the very next day. No foods or clothes have still been granted for them by the government, and whatever supports have been provided, are done by initiatives of organizations like ours. At this point it is to be mentioned that there is generally a consensus among urban middle classes that ‘we’ are doing enough for these very poor people. An old village man told us, “we don’t eat ‘khichdi’ in general but now we are compelled to; we eat good quality foods since we produce our own chaul, daal and other crops”. Thus it should be made clear that we are being able to provide them not more than enough but less than the necessities. And the government is not even offering that minimum support for saving their lives. Mamta Banerjee led TMC being in power has decided not to provide any real relief and they will possibly declare some compensation and go to peaceful sleep, and such recompense will never reach to the hands of affected people.

And what amount may compensate the loss, even if it is about the economic loss? Leave the question of damaged houses and other lost equipments. We have seen more than 200 bighas of land cropped with Masuri and Sona-Masuri paddy completely drowned under water in a small ‘panchayat ilaka’. It costs not less than 25 lakhs of rupees. All over the Bengal see a more than 8 lakh hectares of cropped land. How will it be reimbursed? And what about the food crisis that we are going to experience very soon? Will we expect to the BJP at the centre to do the needful? What about the rail lines and roads those have seriously been damaged and led to repartition of Bengal into north and south? Also there was no ‘go-rakshakh bahini’ found to save the cows and buffalos those have flowed out by the flood water.

These days observe at least one election each year including from panchayats and municipalities to assembly and parliament and other by-elections. However, when it is the question of lives of people that comes in reality, no established political parties are seen in practical action. Rather they involve in verbal wars by accusing each other via commercial media. Everyone in Bengal is feeling the need of people’s politics against such establishment politics.

Courtesy: India Resists
 

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