Presently, when Bihar and Assam are experiencing an ‘above normal’ flood situation, it might seem odd to talk about drought or lack of water, but this is the truth of our time. The month that receives high rainfall each year has passed, but if one were to look at the data, one can see that the country has received less water. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) standards, 10 percent less rainfall than the average is considered as severe, but this time it has crossed 13 percent.
In such a situation, when the problem of water scarcity is clearly visible and rainwater is just allowed to flow into the sea, I do not think any government or non-volunteer effort in this regard is present. If arrangements were to be made for proper dams or reservoirs in view of the floods occurring in some areas of the country every year, I strongly feel rainwater can be harvested and can help in dealing with problems like drought.
According to the latest data provided by the Central Water Commission, less than 40 billion cubic meters of water were collected through dams, whereas at the same time this figure last year was 65 billion cubic meters. As per Central Water Commission’s (CWC) data, water levels in the country’s major reservoirs dipped to 18 percent of their storage capacity, well below their 10-year average. Of the 91 major reservoirs monitored by the CWC, 85 have less than 40 percent water, they said.
This situation will affect public money and the economy of the country. Each year for flood relief, funds are allotted to be spent. The floods will have further devastating effects on the lands of farmers. Producing a domino effect, this will, in turn, affect the market, the economy will witness recession, the yield will decrease, inflation will kick in, and the common people will suffer.
During the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-2012) a number of telemetry stations, base stations, and FFSs (Flood Forecasting Stations) were set up. In comparison to this, only 56 telemetry stations have been installed and the remaining ‘work is in progress’ mode. While there is always the possibility of flood in Sindhu, Tawi, Niru, Chenab and Jhelum rivers in Jammu and Kashmir. Only one FFS was installed in Jhelum in 2015, after the devastating flood of September 2014.
The situation becomes even more precarious when most telemetry stations are non-functional. A CAG audit states how of the 375 telemetry stations established in the country, which receive real-time data for rivers and rainwater level, 222 (59 percent) were not working. In the Himalayan Ganga division, between 2013 and August 2016, 7 out of 9 telemetry stations were non-functional. In fact, a station gave incorrect data during the flood in 2013 and 2014. In the Damodar division, which is a flood-prone area, between June 2007 to October 2013, 12 out of 24 telemetry stations were non-functional. In the Middle Brahmaputra division, between March 2012 and July 2015, 2 out of 6 telemetry stations were non-functional.
World-renowned human historian Yuval Noah Harari has written in his international bestseller book ‘Sapiens’ that the existing human race may face extinction. Harris says, and I believe, due to climate change, due to the constantly emerging problems of flood and drought, the coming 100 years could be the final years of human beings.