Every year, and without fail, discussions on this topic surfaces to the to the top.
As usual, we have the normal appeals for donations, discussions what the authorities did or did not do
and how the common person can be helped.
While, I do think it is important to give immediate help to victims, without some sort of longterm solution,
we are also, in some way, buying into this temporary solutions binge. In a few months all this will be forgotten,
of course, until the next year. And we will start this all over again.
I am not sure if the authorities are ever pressured to seriously think and act upon longterm solutions.
A couple of days ago, I broached this subject with a friend (who is in the up & up in civil administration at Guwahati)
From the discussion, I gathered:
1. The flood situation in Assam can never be eliminated. We can only soften the havoc.
Basically, you cannot fight nature.
2. One way was to discourage population settlements in areas normally inundated every year. Of course, this is easier said than done.
For one, any vacant land is enticing and will be occupied during non-flooding seasons.
Land is scarce, and then there are illegal immigrants from B'desh.
The concepts like 100-year flood plains does not exist.
3. Dredging it seems is too expensive and considered a non-solution.
4. The Govt. generally lacks the will (and the resources) to find longterm solutions.
5. Any solution to be successful, has to be done with the coordination of India/B'desh
and also the states and areas within these countries. We can make no inroads attacking this problem unilaterally.
Such discussions with B'desh or between states are normally bogged down by self-interests.
Bottom line, only a well coordinated, multipronged plan may work.
6. In cities like Guwahati, problems like proper drainage can help. But these systems have been ill-planned and
it will be horendous to make drastic changes.
7. Dams/embankments may help one group, but not another.
8. River-linking: ???
9. Ecology/natural balance is the last thing we think about when dealing the flood situation.
These are just thoughts. I don't particularly endorse any view, but it will be at least academically interesting to see what netters think. My only view is we need a long term solution, and am not sure how we can go about it.
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