Floods have created havoc in some Northeastern states, especially affecting Assam. As per updates, 22 lakh people are still reeling under the deluge, while 126 people have lost their lives due to the floods in Assam. The reports have further stated that 2542 villages are still under water and 74,706.77 hectares of crop area have been damaged causing huge financial loss. The intensity of the floods has made it difficult to undertake rescue operations, a fact which has been admitted by the state’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The Chief Minister lamented over the fact that the state administration has not been able to reach all marooned people, while visiting the flood-affected areas of south Assam.
The loss of lives and properties due to floods is not a new phenomenon in this part of the country; rather floods have become an annual feature in the Northeast as no proper plan has ever been made to limit the damages caused by such natural disasters. It may be remembered that back in 1991, the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao on the floor of the parliament had expressed inability to take up plans to tame the mighty Brahmaputra due to lack of funds. Quite ironically, so far no Prime Minister has referred to the shortage of funds regarding the Ganga Action Plan, although the funds sanctioned for the purpose have been misused for years. Clearly, this is a unique example of neglect towards the region, which is largely responsible for its delayed development.
Geographically, the Northeastern region of the country is among the most flood-prone areas of the world mainly because of the single drainage system in the Ganga-Brahmaputra plain. Over the years, the flood menace has further been compounded by global warming and rampant destruction of nature. At the same time, one should not overlook the fact that Meghalaya receives the maximum amount of rainfall in the world. All these factors together, along with poor maintenance of embankments have increased the misery of the people manifold this monsoon, especially when the region has received 62 per cent more rainfall from March to May this year.
With the threat of climate change looming large, there is no time to take appropriate steps for the prevention of floods and erosion caused by the mighty Brahmaputra, until and unless it is done on a war footing. Along with the Centre, the states will also have to play an important role in-order to save the populace from the impending danger of global warming. To begin with, the fragile and delicate ecology of the region should be restored, as it has been severely damaged due to unplanned growth. For example, almost all natural wetlands have ruthlessly been destroyed in Guwahati for the sake of urbanisation. As a result, waterlogging has become a regular problem in the city. Moreover, deforestation and mining in the hills have made the region prone to landslides. As a result, natural disasters have become a recurrent scourge in the Northeastern states.