What is the issue?
- Recent floods in parts of eastern and western India have left many dead and displacing thousands.
- This has increased the need for a massive capacity-building programme to deal with frequent, destructive weather events.
What actions are required?
- Protocols followed by State governments to deal with floods need an urgent review.
- Catastrophic events, such as the Chennai flood of 2015, necessitate a review of the protocol followed by State governments in controlling flows from dams and reservoirs.
- Some states have not been able to use disaster relief funds as intended.
- The Centre has asked states to set off the unutilised portion when making fresh claims which is unfair for people in urgent need.
- Other actions people need on the ground include short-term housing, food, safe water, access to health care and protection for women, children and the elderly.
- With neither social support nor financial instruments available to rebuild lives, alleviating financial losses of the victims is crucial for a return to normality.
- It is essential to look at the public health dimension as many without the coping capacity develop mental health issues including post-traumatic stress disorder in the wake of such catastrophes, and need counselling.
- A review of the deployment of National Disaster Response Force teams near water bodies is required.
- This is to be coupled with data compiled by the Central Water Commission, which identifies the hotspots where better management and perhaps additional reservoirs can mitigate damage.
- Given the unprecedented events like even drought-prone regions in Gujarat and Rajasthan encountering floods, governments' response is of crucial importance.
Source: The Hindu
