Resilience Planning - Kerala Floods

What is the issue?

• Kerala is witnessing historic rainfalls in disastrous proportions, with South west monsoon.
• The impact of the flood has highlighted the need for governments to strengthen resilience planning.

What is the catastrophic impact?

• Monsoon rainfall on several districts of Kerala has come as a reminder of unpredictable natural disasters.
• More than three dozen people have died.
• An estimated Rs. 8,000 crore worth of economic assets had been lost.
• The gates of reservoirs in the Idukki system, and several other dams have been opened. Click here to know more
• This has inundated the habitations downstream.
• About 60,000 people whose dwellings suffered damage were lodged in relief camps.
• Landslips caused by incessant showers have caused damage to houses, roads and other structures.

What is the changing climate scenario?

• Kerala’s unusually heavy monsoon this year is in contrast to the long-period trend of rainfall.
• According to an analysis of data on the monsoon between 1954 and 2003, overall this part of the country had become drier in summer.
• Nevertheless, there is an emerging frequency of destructive flash floods in rare events as this.
• This trend is only expected to become stronger in the coming period.

How to deal with it?

• With its efficient primary health care network, Kerala can take all measures to avoid epidemics.
• However, the evolving climate pattern points to the need for governments to strengthen their resilience planning.
• It should begin with a programme to relocate people away from hazard zones along the rivers.
• But finding suitable land is a challenge in a populous, forested State as that of Kerala.

Source: The Hindu