A Man-Made Crisis – On Dimapur Recurring Floods

It takes just a few hours of downpour to inundate Dimapur, so one can only imagine the possible scenario if heavy rainfall continues for days. At least three people have been killed in incidents reportedly connected to floods in just two days, even as hundreds of families have been affected, economic activities disrupted and educational institutions forced to shut. But then, this is not something new. It has become a tragic annual show, the only difference being the extent of damage and severity. With no concrete measures in place to mitigate this recurring issue, we can only brace for such mayhem in the future. Sadly, what we see in Dimapur today is something that most Indian cities are also facing. It can be attributed to poor planning amid rapid urbanisation, failure of civic bodies in improving the drainage system, and disappearance of water bodies due to human settlement. It is only natural for rainwater to flow to low-lying areas and locations that were once wetland. Water-logging is inevitable if people continue to litter drains and streams with plastic items and waste despite extensive awareness campaigns on sustainable waste management and cleanliness. Land encroachment on floodplains and natural drainage systems is a contributor to flooding. So, it won’t be wrong to conclude that the mayhem we are witnessing today is more of our own making; it’s a man-made disaster rather than a natural calamity. We have to pay dearly for our own greed, negligence and lack of civic sense every year.

Going by recent responses to disaster and monsoon preparedness programmes being organised across the state ahead of the rainy season, the government of Nagaland seems to have learnt its lessons. The implementation of a disaster management insurance scheme by partnering with SBI General Insurance is another significant move towards enhancing disaster response and recovery amid rising natural calamities in the state. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) have been doing a commendable job behind the scenes during natural calamities, working day and night to rescue people in distress, risking their own safety. However, the government has failed to pay attention to sustainable urban development, resulting in unregulated expansion in flood-prone areas. To minimise flood risks, the concerned authorities should formulate both short-term and long-term measures, including restoration of natural water bodies, and strictly implement them. People too should help themselves by not encroaching on stormwater drains and keeping their surroundings clean. The vicious circle of flooding should be broken.