National Disastrous Management

Floods, contrary to popular and perhaps television perception, are not unmitigated bad news because they are symbols and substance of water regeneration — a big plus in a country that has low water table in some parts and will be a big water consumer globally in the near future. But of course, floods, such as those caused by the Kosi river in north Bihar, also challenge the administration’s capacity to protect lives, livelihoods and homes. Two million people are reportedly homeless because of the Kosi floods and the official count for the dead has already reached three figures.

The Kosi breached its embankment at Kushala, about 13 km upstream of the Kosi barrage on the Nepalese side on August 18. That was the day Prachanda was taking oath as Nepal’s new PM. Nothing was done then and the blame game has begun now.

New Delhi is blaming Kathmandu for not allowing Bihar Government engineers to reinforce the embankment once the river started attacking its spurs around August 15-16. The Bihar government is cross with the Centre as the latter did not take up the matter seriously enough with Nepal. And Kathmandu is angry with New Delhi for not maintaining the Kosi barrage and its embankment, given to New Delhi on 199 years lease, during the dry season.

The facts are as follows: Bihar government engineers were late in starting embankment enforcement operations; Nepalese customs took its sweet time letting the material through; the breach was within the Kosi-Tapu sanctuary, restricting operations; and the Nepalese workforce weren’t willing to work as an emergency demands.

Damage done, where were the forces of national disaster management? A 235-strong force landed 48 hours after the breach and flooding on August 18. But warnings had been sounded around Independence Day.

In another emergency earlier, a national disaster management force took four hours to reach Kullu, Himachal Pradesh; the stampede in the Naina Devi temple had claimed 141 lives by then. Yes, India’s response to the 2004 tsunami or even the 2000 Bhuj earthquake was credible. But, in general, something’s very rotten in disaster management administration.

Rats have a major presence in the headquarters of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) at Centaur Hotel, Delhi. NDMA was set up in December 2005 and has the prime minister as its chairman. Its executive head is General (Retd) N.C. Vij, former Indian army chief. NDMA has 10 members, and Vij holds ex-officio rank of minister of state.

... contd.

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