DNA Edit: In the absence of long-term solutions, North-East will suffer

The annual phenomenon of floods in the Northeast during monsoon has stuck to its brief of causing havoc in the lives of people. With the death toll mounting – at least 21 have died – and 4.5 lakh severely affected, there appears no respite from nature’s fury. And, this is only the beginning of an unfolding catastrophe that regularly visits the region with unfailing deadliness.

Last year, by July, around 80 people had died and 17 lakh were marooned in what was termed an unprecedented situation. Assam had been the worst hit, followed by Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. This year a rapidly swelling Brahmaputra is already close to reaching the danger mark, which means people will have to brace for more flash floods and rainfall-induced landslides.

The Centre’s efforts to deal with the situation, stepping up relief and rescue operations, are noteworthy. The National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force have already rescued 6,000 people in Assam.

The Army too has stepped in with its rescue missions in the Northeast. Prime Minister Modi has assured the chief ministers of flood-affected states that they will get full central assistance. It’s a silver lining in the lives of the people who have lost their homes and possessions and have to start over yet again.

However, it must be said that India still lacks an effective disaster management system. The state governments’ response to natural calamities are more reactive than proactive, which means that they act only when disaster strikes, rather than taking long-term measures to mitigate the sufferings of the people.

It’s clear that lessons from last year or the previous years haven’t fully been grasped. While loss of lives is unavoidable in a disaster of this magnitude, minimising the death toll entails planning and taking pre-emptive measures.

Since the same regions are inundated every year – in Assam alone, 31.6 lakh hectares of land are flood-prone – it’s prudent to evacuate people at the onset of the monsoon. Disaster Management Programmes should increase information, education and communication activities alongside conducting training and drills in the low-lying areas of the Northeast. An effective early warning system is a key component of disaster prevention.

It’s surprising that the Meteorological Department still lacks the equipment and expertise to make accurate predictions. Following the thunderstorms that ravaged seven states and killed over a 100 people, the PM had to tell the Met department that along with issuing warnings, it should also advise people what action they should take.

The existing policy of investing in structural solutions like building of embankments in Assam needs to also incorporate natural flood control mechanisms based on local topography needs. The mighty Brahmaputra cannot be tamed with embankments alone if the past years are any indication. The ideal way involves participation of local stakeholders who can find localised solutions based on the lay of the land. A vast and diverse country like India is extremely disaster-prone, which makes it imperative to invest heavily in building resilience.