Assam Flood: Annual Phenomena in the Northeast 

News Highlights

 Assam flood annual phenomena threaten the northeast, in the ongoing wave, lakhs of people have been affected while 1.08 lakh hectares of crops have been damaged.

Focus Points

• As per Assam State Disaster Management Authority, the flood-affected at least 5.75 lakh people.

Floods in Assam

Previous Floods

• The floods of 1988, 1998, and 2004 were the worst ones.
• 2004 flood alone affected 12.4 million people and claimed 251 lives.

Flood Prone Area of State

• The flood-prone area of the state is 31.05 lakh hectares nearly 40% of the state’s area is flood-prone.
• Assam flood-prone areas account for 10% of the total flood-prone area of India.

Reasons for Assam Flood 

Natural Causes 

• Rivers
  • The presence of a vast network of rivers including the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers.
  • Assam also receives river water from neighbouring states like Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya
  • River overflow due to bank erosion is caused by the speed of rivers. One such example is the river Brahmaputra.
    • Since 1950 the Brahmaputra river system has eroded around 4. 27 lakh hectares of land which ultimately sees the impact of flooding.
  • Large-scale deposition of sediments at the bottom of the river bed results in the rise of water level which ultimately results in the flooding of the region.
• Climatic Phenomena
  • When the Assam floods occurred in 2004 and 2014 the condition worsened due to a cloud burst in Meghalaya that provided excessive water to the Assam region.
  • Increase in the rate of monsoon seasons.

Man-Made Causes 

• Land Encroachment
  • The encroachment of land and wetland results in the reduction in the area of river flow, then it starts flooding.
  • Due to the destruction of wetlands like  Dipor Bil, the water-absorbing capacity of the region is reduced.
• Lack of Drainage
  • Water will not replenish into the ground due to an inefficient drainage system and concretisation, and flow will not occur.
• Unplanned Urbanisation 
  • During the monsoon season, unplanned urbanisation causes water stagnation, aggravating the flood situation.
• Deforestation
  • Deforestation results in the reduction of the water holding capacity of the soil.

Impact of Assam Flood

Environmental Impact

• During the flood, the Kaziranga National Park experienced one of the worst effects, with land submerged and animal deaths, including threatened One-Horned Rhinos.

Economic Impact 

• Large-scale destruction of crops reduces production.
• Hindrance of connectivity to the region. For example the cancelling of trains to the region.

Social Impact

• Troma in people due to displacement from the region affected by the flood.

Steps Taken to Counter Assam Flood

Recommendation of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources

• Strengthen Embankment –  To prevent overflow of the rivers.
• Dredging of Rivers – Increase the water holding capacity of rivers like the Brahmaputra and its tributaries.
• Address River Erosion – Land encroachments to be checked and the wetlands to be restored 
• Weather Prediction – Modern weather stations in the upstream catchment of all dams in the northeast and install sirens on river banks near dams.
• Environmental Step – Afforestation and rejuvenation of wetlands as a measure to counter flood.
• Government Steps
  • Inclusion of river erosion under the list of calamities
  • Increase manpower of Brahmaputra Board 
  • Carry out flood plain zoning
  • Setting up River Basin Organisation

Pic Courtesy: ISRO, Indian Express

Content Source: The Hindu