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Source-This post on Assam’s Geography and Flood Management has been created based on the article “Behind Assam’s annual flood woes, a history of unintended consequences” published in “The Indian Express” on 16 July 2024.
UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper-3- Disaster and Disaster Management.
Context– The article discusses how Assam’s geography, historical events, and human actions interact in flood management. It highlights that while flood control measures like embankments were intended to help, they have caused unintended long-term effects on the region’s ecology and communities.
Assam’s geography is shaped by several factors, including the eastern Himalaya, fragile geology, forested landscapes, the southwest monsoon, the Bay of Bengal’s turbulence, braided rivers, rich biodiversity, and sediment from the Himalayas. These features contribute to the state’s annual floods.
Flooding is frequent in Assam, but since the 1950 earthquake (magnitude 8.6), the severity and effects of floods have intensified. This led to more severe flood patterns from 1952 onward.
How has Assam’s population coped with floods?
Since 1950, Assam has asked the Government of India for assistance in building embankments to manage floods. These embankments are intended to prevent river flooding and protect crops, property, and livestock while keeping fields adequately moist.
What were the initial responses to the embankments?
Responses were mixed. Many were concerned about declining environmental health, as paddy fields needed more artificial fertilizer due to reduced nutrients from floodwaters. Others felt relieved, believing the embankments were protecting their crops, property, and livestock.
Read More- Urban Flooding in India-Causes, Impacts and Remedies – Explained, pointwise
What are the issues with the construction of embankments?
1) Concerns Raise by Garg Committee (1951): It stated that a river’s main functions are land building and drainage. Embankments could be useful if rivers were stable and carried little silt. However, if rivers had a lot of silt (this is true in case of Brahmaputra), embankments could cause more harm than good and disrupt the natural land-building and drainage processes.
2) Impact of Embankments on Assam’s River Dynamics -Embankments significantly altered the relationship between rivers and Assam’s residents. Disrupting the natural balance harmed the land’s health. As floodplains became drier, people settled closer to the rivers. This has increased the risks to their lives and property.
3) National Flood Commission (1976-80)- It raised concerns that coarse silt and sand had elevated riverbeds above the surrounding land. This has increased the risk of flooding if the embankments failed.
New embankment construction has declined, but old institutions and mindsets still pursue flood control in the Brahmaputra basin. Assam is still facing the consequences of neglecting the region’s complex river history in flood management.
Question for practice
How has the population of Assam managed during floods? What problems arise from the construction of embankments?
