Kerala Floods: Rising Losses and the Need for Long-Term Flood Resilience
Context
Following the recent floods in Kerala, the state government announced an ex gratia of ₹8 lakh for the families of those who lost their lives and enhanced compensation for damaged houses. While intense rainfall triggered the disaster, experts point out that human induced factors such as river sedimentation, wetland degradation, and unplanned urbanisation significantly aggravated the flooding.
Key Highlights
- Kerala plans to develop a comprehensive Kerala Disaster Resilience Programme to strengthen long-term disaster preparedness and serve as a model for other states.
- The water-carrying capacity of rivers has declined due to heavy silt and sand deposition. A 2021 CAG report noted that several reservoirs, including Kallarkutty Dam, have lost substantial storage capacity because of sedimentation.
- The state has witnessed a sharp decline in paddy fields and wetlands, reducing the natural ability of the landscape to absorb excess rainwater and increasing flood vulnerability.
- Rapid urbanisation has expanded concrete and paved surfaces, limiting groundwater infiltration and causing faster surface runoff, which intensifies flash floods.
Important Concepts
- Sedimentation: The accumulation of silt and sand in rivers and reservoirs, reducing their storage capacity and increasing flood risk.
- Wetlands: Natural ecosystems that absorb and store excess water, helping moderate floods. They are protected under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 and the Ramsar Convention.
- Impervious Surfaces: Concrete and asphalt-covered areas that prevent rainwater from seeping into the ground, resulting in greater surface runoff and urban flooding.
- SDRF and NDRF: The State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) provide financial assistance for relief and disaster response.
Way Forward
- Undertake large-scale desiltation of rivers and reservoirs while preparing a comprehensive river asset inventory to prevent encroachments.
- Protect and restore wetlands and paddy fields, recognising them as natural flood buffers.
- Regulate construction in ecologically sensitive hill regions and strengthen land-use planning.
- Incorporate sponge city principles, sustainable drainage systems, and climate-resilient urban planning to reduce future flood risks.