Publish to Newswire
Add an EventFrom the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
Indian flood deaths highlight government indifference to recurring social calamity
In what has become a tragic annual ritual during the summer (June-September) monsoons, rains and overflowing rivers have killed at least 400 people and left more than 4 million homeless in the Indian states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh over the past two and a half weeks. The lives of as many as 15 million people have been disrupted by the flooding.
WSWS : News & Analysis : Asia : India
Indian flood deaths highlight government indifference to recurring social calamity
By Kranti Kumara
18 August 2006
Use this version to print | Send this link by email | Email the author
In what has become a tragic annual ritual during the summer (June-September) monsoons, rains and overflowing rivers have killed at least 400 people and left more than 4 million homeless in the Indian states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh over the past two and a half weeks. The lives of as many as 15 million people have been disrupted by the flooding.
Far from being the result of natural causes, there is considerable evidence that the floods are a direct result of the gross mismanagement of dams in Central and Western India. Instead of releasing water in a timely and systematic manner prior to the onset of the monsoons, the authorities have been charged by knowledgeable Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) with letting a large number of dams fill up beyond prudent levels, then releasing massive amounts of water within a short period and without warning, causing massive floods that submerge thousands of villages and towns located downstream.
The floods have destroyed animals, standing crops, irrigation systems, canals and farmland, bringing unimaginable misery to millions of people. The death toll is sure to rise as many more bodies will no doubt be discovered after the floodwaters recede.
Though the army was mobilised by the Indian government to provide aid, the evacuation and rescue effort were haphazard and have done little to relieve the immense social suffering.
Surat, the second largest city in the western state of Gujarat and the “diamond capital” of India, was largely submerged and cut off from the rest of state for several days beginning August 8. After the Tapi River overflowed, hundreds of thousands of the people were trapped on higher ground and rooftops without electricity, water, food or telephone connections.
Read More
http://wsws.org/articles/2006/aug2006/indi-a18.shtml
Add Your Comments
Comments
(Hide Comments)
"the gross mismanagement of dams in Central and Western India. Instead of releasing water in a timely and systematic manner prior to the onset of the monsoons, the authorities have been charged by knowledgeable Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) with letting a large number of dams fill up beyond prudent levels, then releasing massive amounts of water within a short period"
Well ... it's not THAT simple. A little Hydrology 101 and Meteorology 101. After all, you're going to need to know these things if YOU propose to oneday contriol the floodgates.
Essentially you can manage the dams to EITHER provide maximum power and maximum available irrigation water (maybe this year the monsoon rains are less than normal) OR you can manage them for maximum flood protection (keep the resevoirs empty in advance of the expected monsoon) BUT YOU CAN'T DO BOTH. That is not a weakness of capitalist dams. It is equally true of socialist dams.
If you leave the water storage levels low and the rains fail to be normal, then people didn't die in floods, they die when the next season's crop fails and they starve. And even if the rains don't fail, you had to trade away something to whatever people elsewhere had oil or coal to replace the hydro power lost (yes my frineds, even if those other people are socailists too they won't GIVE it to you gratis).
The problem is real, it's an annual problem of tough choices, but it's NOT a capitalist problem and you would be in the same danmed no matter what you do situation if you got to decide how the floodgates should be set.
Well ... it's not THAT simple. A little Hydrology 101 and Meteorology 101. After all, you're going to need to know these things if YOU propose to oneday contriol the floodgates.
Essentially you can manage the dams to EITHER provide maximum power and maximum available irrigation water (maybe this year the monsoon rains are less than normal) OR you can manage them for maximum flood protection (keep the resevoirs empty in advance of the expected monsoon) BUT YOU CAN'T DO BOTH. That is not a weakness of capitalist dams. It is equally true of socialist dams.
If you leave the water storage levels low and the rains fail to be normal, then people didn't die in floods, they die when the next season's crop fails and they starve. And even if the rains don't fail, you had to trade away something to whatever people elsewhere had oil or coal to replace the hydro power lost (yes my frineds, even if those other people are socailists too they won't GIVE it to you gratis).
The problem is real, it's an annual problem of tough choices, but it's NOT a capitalist problem and you would be in the same danmed no matter what you do situation if you got to decide how the floodgates should be set.
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Donate
$135.00 donated
in the past month
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network