Assam flood scenario

While the nation's attention is almost completely focused on COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese threat and the ongoing dirty political drama, Assam has been ravaged by devastating floods. With the rising Brahmaputra waters leaving vast stretches of Guwahati submerged, 30 of Assam's 33 districts have been badly hit and the flood waters have affected lakhs of people. For Assam of course it's nothing new because every year we face it. The river Brahmaputra's massive erosion in Dhemaji, Dibrugarh and North Lakhimpur districts is posing a serious threat to farmland as well as villages at the river banks, and two worst-hit districts are Dhubri and Barpeta. Innocent animals were not spared; the Kaziranga National Park has been devastated by the flood water with more than 150 animal deaths, as many as 16 rhinoceros have breathed their last. Flooding has become an annual affair in the important northeastern State. Nearly 40 per cent of the land is prone to floods in the State. The consistent flood ravage in Assam is attributed to the Brahmaputra and the Barak rivers that have more than fifty tributaries in the State. Especially Brahmaputra's instability, insofar as its sharp slopes and sedimentation particles are concerned, combines with several factors pummel the State. As in every part of the country, aimless deforestation is a known factor that renders the State susceptible to floods. Mind boggling urbanization is an offshoot of loss of forest cover. Encroachment of forest bodies and wetland is another reason. Brahmaputra's width has 15 km at some places. The region falls under zone 5 in the seismic activity. Earthquakes are a common occurrence. Quakes lead to landslides, leading to the collapse of landmass leaving huge debris in rivers beds.

There are upstream dams whose unregulated opening brings in a deluge. Ironically, breaches of embankments, constructed with an aim to hold back water, and prevent floods are responsible for floods. Water pressure and land erosion may weaken the embankments. Since they are earthen structures, their construction and design should be foolproof. Many a time, due to the natural properties of the river, embankments turn fragile. That's why they need constant vigil and review. Old and inferior quality embankments remain unrepaired due to paucity of funds or lackadaisical approach of the authorities.

No soothsayer is required to predict that the over-aged embankments should have had a relook well before the monsoon set in, and that didn't happen. Earth cutting happens when there is no systematic hill management policy that can halt rapid urbanization in its track. This too causes soil erosion and landslides. Flash flooding and water siltation are the other consequences, and the net result is a battered ecosystem. The Government of Assam is holding relief camps. The situation may deteriorate again by heavy rainfall. It is pertinent to note that the triggers are both natural and man-made. The solution to the problem lies in the problem.

Chandan Kumar Nath,

Sorbhog, Barpeta