Yet another flood on doorsteps
Sunday, 29 July 2007
SHADOWS of yet another deluge are looming on the horizon quite menacingly. It is hard to predict right at this moment the possible intensity and ferocity of the flood that has already engulfed a vast tract of land in northern as well as middle parts of the country, rendering hundreds of families homeless and causing damage to standing crops and vegetables. But signs are ominous as major rivers -- now are in full-spate due to onrush of waters coming from the hilly regions of neighbouring India coupled with torrential rain for the last few days -- are flowing well above the danger level at different points. If the current spell of rain continues for few more days in both neighbouring Indian states and Bangladesh, more and more areas would be engulfed by flood waters.
There is no denying that both frequency and intensity of floods in Bangladesh have increased for the last two decades. This development could be nature's revenge on humans who have been unabatedly interfering with the normal river systems through construction of dams, embankments and other physical barriers. Unfortunately, Bangladesh, being a lower riparian of a number of international rivers, has to bear the main brunt of the wrongs of the upper riparian -- India. The worst of all negative effects of such interference has come from the Farakka Barrage. The withdrawal of the dry season flow of the Ganges at Farakka by India has made the beds of most Bangladesh rivers rise due to the deposition of huge silts, in addition to causing extensive damage to its ecosystem. Allegations have it that India during monsoon floods keeps all the sluice gates of the dams constructed by it on the common rivers open, letting nature play havoc with life and properties in Bangladesh. Besides, the frequent floods in this region might also be linked to global warming which has already started taking a heavy toll on both developed and developing economies. The current flood in some areas of the United Kingdom, severe heat wave in Greece and frequent bushfires in the USA and Australia could also be grim reminders of nature's unstoppable might of taking revenge.
Besides human sufferings, the economic cost of a natural calamity like flood is huge in a poor country like Bangladesh. The ravages of the severe floods in 1988, 1998 and 2004-05 are still fresh in the memory of most people. The common people in the past had demonstrated strong resilience against the odds of natural calamities. But hit hard by soaring prices of essentials this time they might find it really difficult to bear with the negative effects of a flood of moderate to severe intensity. Bangladesh's ability to manage natural calamity, particularly the post-flood management, has been acclaimed internationally. The current flood may or may not turn nasty. But, it is time for the administration to make all-out preparations for mitigating the sufferings of the people during and after the flood. The local and central administrations do need to do all the needful to help the people living in flood affected areas. The most important part of the post-flood management is the agricultural rehabilitation. The farmers are now in the midst of Aman paddy transplantation. In the wake of a severe flood, Aman seed-beds could be destroyed, giving rise to short supply of saplings. The government should ask the agency concerned to take necessary preparations so that farmers can be supplied with the same in their time of need.
There is no denying that both frequency and intensity of floods in Bangladesh have increased for the last two decades. This development could be nature's revenge on humans who have been unabatedly interfering with the normal river systems through construction of dams, embankments and other physical barriers. Unfortunately, Bangladesh, being a lower riparian of a number of international rivers, has to bear the main brunt of the wrongs of the upper riparian -- India. The worst of all negative effects of such interference has come from the Farakka Barrage. The withdrawal of the dry season flow of the Ganges at Farakka by India has made the beds of most Bangladesh rivers rise due to the deposition of huge silts, in addition to causing extensive damage to its ecosystem. Allegations have it that India during monsoon floods keeps all the sluice gates of the dams constructed by it on the common rivers open, letting nature play havoc with life and properties in Bangladesh. Besides, the frequent floods in this region might also be linked to global warming which has already started taking a heavy toll on both developed and developing economies. The current flood in some areas of the United Kingdom, severe heat wave in Greece and frequent bushfires in the USA and Australia could also be grim reminders of nature's unstoppable might of taking revenge.
Besides human sufferings, the economic cost of a natural calamity like flood is huge in a poor country like Bangladesh. The ravages of the severe floods in 1988, 1998 and 2004-05 are still fresh in the memory of most people. The common people in the past had demonstrated strong resilience against the odds of natural calamities. But hit hard by soaring prices of essentials this time they might find it really difficult to bear with the negative effects of a flood of moderate to severe intensity. Bangladesh's ability to manage natural calamity, particularly the post-flood management, has been acclaimed internationally. The current flood may or may not turn nasty. But, it is time for the administration to make all-out preparations for mitigating the sufferings of the people during and after the flood. The local and central administrations do need to do all the needful to help the people living in flood affected areas. The most important part of the post-flood management is the agricultural rehabilitation. The farmers are now in the midst of Aman paddy transplantation. In the wake of a severe flood, Aman seed-beds could be destroyed, giving rise to short supply of saplings. The government should ask the agency concerned to take necessary preparations so that farmers can be supplied with the same in their time of need.