Disaster Management

KEY POINTS

·         Though excessive rains filled the dams, experts blamed poor water flow management from the reservoirs for the inundation of Kerala.

·         Water experts are saying that the intensity of Kerala floods could have been reduced if the water from 35 big dams in Kerala was released much earlier.

·         The major issue with the dam management is the authorities always look to store the maximum amount of water in reservoirs during the monsoon season.

·         It is then used for irrigation and generation of electricity during the summer months.

Suggestions

·         Dams – The water level of a reservoir should be kept below a certain level before the onset of the monsoon season. This is an internationally accepted practice.

·         This ensures that there is enough space to store the excess rainwater when the monsoon rains come and also facilitates releasing water in a regulated manner.

·         Policies – It is high time that government formulate water management policies for reservoirs.

·         This should be in such a manner that dams are used to control floods, and not cause them.

·         There is also a need to act on decentralised alternatives involving water recycling and reuse.

·         Authority – Dam and water management is vested with the Public Works Department, Electricity Board, and Irrigation Department.

·         But even in normal conditions there are contradictory opinions among these. This poses implementation hurdles to the decisions taken.

·         So, the State Dam Security Authority, if competent, should be entrusted with the task of water management in reservoirs.

·         It should also be empowered to take decisions in emergency situations.

·         Electricity – The over-dependence on hydel projects to produce electricity is another driving factor.

·         So enhancing non-conventional sources for electricity generation is important in this context.

Kindly review