CPD study estimates flood losses at Tk 150b

Losses caused by two spells of recent floods in the country have been estimated to be Tk 150.1 billion, according to a study conducted by Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).
Crop losses, collapse of houses and damage to roads, culverts, embankments and dams have dealt a severe blow to above 12.87 million people in 38 districts, the study added.
The findings of the study titled 'Flood 2017: Assessing Damage and Post-flood Management' were disclosed at a national-level dialogue organised by the think-tank at the CIRDAP auditorium in the city on Thursday.

The study said flash flood hit six districts in the haor areas during the March-April period while monsoon flood occurred in August affecting 32 districts.
Flash flood caused an approximate loss of 1.53 million tonnes of rice during the Boro season worth Tk 53 billion, it added.
The study showed that monsoon flood in August affected 8.2 million people in 32 districts, causing damage to 9 per cent of croplands worth Tk 27 billion. It also caused damage to houses, roads, culverts and embankments worth Tk 71.0 billion.
"The financial cost of haor flash flood is equivalent to 3.7 per cent of agriculture crop sector gross domestic product (GDP) while the financial cost of monsoon flood is likely to be about 0.35 per cent to 0.44 per cent of GDP of the financial year 2017-18."
The study also revealed that government allocation and incentives were inadequate for flood-affected people in haor areas.
It said 0.6 million flood-affected people were to receive support to cultivate one bigha of land each, irrespective of their flood losses.
In terms of area coverage, government incentives covered only 19.2 per cent of total cultivable land affected by flash flood.
Support coverage was 68 per cent of the total number of farmers affected by flash flood, the study said.
Out of the total allocation for incentives worth Tk 90 billion, it said, Tk 588 million (in September) and Tk 199 million (in October) were allocated for flood-affected farmers in 32 districts for seed, fertiliser and cash.
However, the loss has been estimated by CPD excluding financial costs of fisheries, livestock, and educational institutions etc.
To cope with such disasters, CPD also made some recommendations including improving service delivery for proper utilisation of relief allocation.
It also assessed the needs for raising efficiency of public food stock management and recommended a special financial mechanism for rural affected-people so that they could get access to low-cost formal credit.
Speaking on the occasion, former vice-chancellor of BRAC University Dr Ainun Nishat said Aman production might witness a 30 per cent fall due to monsoon flood this year.
The country is still going through a flood-like situation in many districts, he said, apprehending that money allocated for flood rehabilitation and repair to roads and embankments might be looted.
Economist Dr M Asaduzzaman said taking care of roads and embankments is more important than that of establishing new structures in the countries like Bangladesh.
When asked, he said a recent hike in prices of rice and vegetables has a correlation with the two spells of flood causing damage to standing Boro crop and vegetables while existing water-logging is likely to hit Aman farming as well.
The government should assess the availability of domestic rice, imported grain and public stock to prepare itself for meeting any possible rice shortage.
Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud while speaking as the chief guest said the government is trying to recoup the losses caused by flooding.
He pointed out that rice varieties like Brridhan-28 or 29 take 150-160 days to ripe which are not suitable for haor areas.
He said the agriculture ministry is promoting the varieties in haor areas but they are not taking responsibility for any damage to crops if flash flood hits the region.
He said dams were damaged by overflow of rivers, onrush of water from the neighbouring country and heavy rain this year.
CPD distinguished fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya who chaired the programme said flood is an old phenomena for Bangladeshi people.
"But we will have to adopt some new plans to face the age-old problem," he added.
He said climate change issue should be included in our flood preparedness programmes as a newer tool.
Regional, sub-regional and international cooperation will also be needed to resolve river related issues mostly responsible for floods, he said, adding that people should be included in flood preparedness plan to establish a most effective flood resilient method.
Chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on disaster management and relief Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu and CPD executive director Dr Fahmida Khatun, among others, were present.

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