Protecting floodplains is the need of the hour

 Protecting floodplains is the need of the hour

Illegal construction work in floodplains reduces the capacity of rivers to contain a high level of water within their banks

Flood Plains and their Significance

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• Flood plains are area conected to rivers serve as natural defences against inland flooding. Maintained without concrete encroachments, they absorb excess water, safeguarding other regions.
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• Properly managed flood plains also aid in recharging groundwater levels and maintaining the water table.

shortage of water and excess water 

 Humanity is struggling with a shortage of water as well as an excess. 

 As the World Health Organization stated

“Floods are increasing in frequency and intensity, and the frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation is expected to continue to increase due to climate change.” 

exampes 

1 Last year, devastating floods in Pakistan claimed 1,700 lives and affected 33 million people. 

2 The 2013 floods in Uttarakhand, 

3 the 2014 floods in the Kashmir Valley, 

4 the 2015 floods in Chennai, 

5 and the 2017 floods in Gujarat all caused loss of lives and livelihoods and massive damage to infrastructure.

6 Himachal Pradesh  -  This year too, we saw the devastating effects of rain-induced floods and landslides in several districts of Himachal Pradesh. 

7 The Yamuna water  - level crossed the 208.5 metre mark, breaking a 45-year-old record.

As per the Geological Survey of India-

1 about GSI 

https://www.sunyaias.com/blogs/geological-survey-of-india

2  over 40 million hectares, which is nearly 12% of the total land area of India, is prone to floods. 

 It affected

• our cities, where there is little effort made in maintaining natural topography. 

• Cities expand fast and mostly in a haphazard manner, which makes them vulnerable to disasters.

• Flooding affects the economy too — Indian cities are projected to contribute to 75% of the GDP by 2030. 

law in india  for floods 

India primarily relies on the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and the rules made in pursuance of the Act, to deal with flood management. 

But this law is meant to deal with multi-hazard risks and is not specifically focused on flood risk management. 

As per the Act, disasters cannot be predicted. This is not entirely correct, especially with respect to the frequency and intensity of floods.

Change in strategy

 

Germany, the U.K., and the Netherlands 

There is a shift in the strategy of flood control in countries such as Germany, the U.K., and the Netherlands to flood risk managementas opposed to flood protection. 

While the protection strategy

includes technical measures such as the 

1 laying of dikes, 

2 temporary flood defence walls, 

3 and polders, 

4 the key elements of the management strategy are retention of water and restoration of floodplains. 

In India, there are large-scale encroachments on floodplains

1 These increase the frequency of floods and the damage caused by them.

 2 Chennai floods of 2015 - 

• A 2018 report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India attributed encroachments in the floodplains of the rivers of Tamil Nadu 

• and the failure to act on them as the prime reason for the Chennai floods of 2015. The auditor called the deluge a ‘man-made disaster’.

Occupying floodplains

Illegal construction work in floodplains

reduces the capacity of rivers to contain a high level of water within their banks. 

This is especially the case during heavy rainfall when water flows down from upper catchment areas.

Thus, the tendency to occupy floodplains results in flooding.

uttrakhand construction of guest houses and hotels 

Uttarakhand has been neglecting eco-sensitive floodplains by allowing the construction of guest houses and hotels on the river front to promote tourism and boost its economy. 

laws 

1 In the wake of the massive floods in 2013, the National Green Tribunal virtually barred construction of buildings 200 m along the banks of the Ganga, in a 2015 directive. 

2 environmental impact assessments 

But attempts were made to bypass this. It is also unclear whether environmental impact assessments are done properly in the State. 

3 The Uttaranchal River Valley (Development and Management) Act, 2005

it is meant to regulate mining and construction in the river valley.

 But reports indicate that there is rampant mining and construction activity with little regard for the environment.

Laws in India which are meant to protect the environment are not implemented.

Preserve ecosystems

There are many experiences around the world 

which point to the potential benefits of protecting and preserving ecosystems such as

•  wetlands, 
• forests,
•  lakes,
•  and coastal areas in reducing physical exposure to natural hazards such as floods, landslides or avalanches by serving as buffers.

 In 1996, Germany

made a fundamental change to its Federal Water Act in the after of a massive flood. 

The law provides for protecting original water capacity while reconstructing bodies of water. 

Therefore, flood plain restoration and water retention of water bodies are considered to be pillars against flooding.

Climate change adaptation is a cross-sectoral issue

It involves laws relating to land use, preservation of water bodies, coastal regulations, and environmental impact assessment.

 Thus it is complex; a multitude of laws need to be integrated into a coherent framework. 

The purpose will not be served if, for instance, a law to tackle climate change is passed by Parliament while changes to land use and the preservation of water bodies are not made.

However, achieving this requires strong political will. Populist leaders tend to refrain from implementing “green” policies. This must change if we want to save lives and livelihoods and safeguard infrastructure.