QUES . Why are the farmers of India still haunted by the recurrence of drought and flood despite river valley planning? UPSC IES/ISS EXAM 2022 General Studies . 200 Words . 5 Marks
HINTS:
Must read: Why drought is one of the most common climatic extremes in India?
Floods and droughts have long been a part of life in India. Almost 150 years ago, the Ganga canal system was developed to bring water to farmers in the fertile upper Gangetic Plain. In southern India too, the early 20th century Krishna Raja Sagar Dam and other systems helped manage floods and prevent crop failures.
However despite the implementation of river valley planning in India, farmers continue to face the recurrent problem of droughts and floods because of:
Climate Change: The monsoon has become more erratic and unpredictable, bringing extreme rainfall on the one hand and sudden drought on the other. Worryingly, India’s drought-prone area has increased by 57 percent since 1997, while instances of heavy rainfall have risen by almost 85 percent since 2012.
Poor Agricultural Practices: Many farmers in India continue to use inefficient and unsustainable agricultural practices, which exacerbate the effects of droughts and floods. This includes excessive groundwater pumping, monoculture farming, and insufficient soil conservation practices.
Inequitable Distribution: Even when water resources are available, their distribution is often inequitable, with some regions having an excess of water while others face shortages. This has resulted in conflicts between different regions, as well as between different sectors of the economy, such as agriculture, industry, and urbanization.
Inadequate Implementation: While river valley planning is a comprehensive approach to water resource management, the implementation of these plans has often been inadequate. Many projects have faced delays, cost overruns, and technical problems, which have resulted in incomplete or ineffective solutions.
Corruption and lack of accountability: Corruption and lack of accountability in the implementation of river valley planning projects have resulted in mismanagement and misuse of resources. This has led to delays in implementation, cost overruns, and ineffective solutions, leaving farmers vulnerable to the recurrence of droughts and floods.
Floods and droughts don’t need to become disasters. It depends on how society manages these climatic extremes. While national governments tend to deal with them in a siloed manner, what is needed is a paradigm shift in the way these events are managed altogether. It is a complex problem that requires a multi-sectorial approach to reduce the risks and impacts.
External link: https://ebooks.inflibnet.ac.in/geop16/chapter/problems-of-flood-and-drought/
