Congress manifesto implcitly acknowledges past mistakes and sets a new agenda
On January 30, 2005, while the country's attention was fixed on the coming elections to the state's legislature, a light rainfall in Sitamarhi district, Bihar, led to large tracts being flooded. This is the region where roads were closed for about 90 days during the monsoon.
The state is the worst affected by floods. According to the 1980 National Flood Commission, the state has more than one-sixth of India's total flood-prone area. The 2004 monsoon saw unprecedented damage to life and property from floods. Relief operations came in for widespread criticism, especially for the use of helicopters -- Rs 22 crore was spent on hiring them to distribute relief material worth a mere Rs 2 crore. It is not certain if all the air-dropped relief material reached people in distress.Every year, during floods, politicians begin to talk about floods as if it is a sudden calamity, though the fact is the people of the region have lived with floods for millennia; indeed, have waited for it and learnt to use it. Yet, development plans have deliberately ignored Bihar's peculiar drainage patterns. Another annual ritual for politicians here is to demand dams in upstream Nepal to prevent excess riverwater from entering Bihar, though it is amply clear that the damage is not restricted to the monsoon waters coming from Nepal.
By February end, Bihar would have elected a new state government. It is well worth asking the question: How do the various political parties promise to tackle floods and other pressing environmental issues in the state? In the violent and pitched political battles of Bihar, it is unwise to expect that elections will be fought over plans to deal with floods. But the election manifestos of various political parties are a good way to gauge if there is any change in perception of the floods, and ways to tackle it (see table: Usual rash of promises).
The ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal's manifesto mentions the floods only in the context of increasing the money available in the disaster relief fund. This essentially means a 'more-of-the-same' approach. The Lok Janshakti Party does mention creating flood-proofing zones and constructing temporary shelters. The Bharatiya Janata Party has mentioned the revival of traditional water management systems, as well as its favourite hobbyhorse: interlinking rivers.
But the most remarkable promise has come in the Congress' manifesto. It talks about an all-new geological survey of the flood-prone area and the creation of a master plan with the help of different agencies. This amounts to an acknowledgement of the colossal mistakes committed, in the past, in the name of flood control in Bihar. Making a clear departure from its hackneyed demands of barrages and embankments along rivers and dams in Nepal, the Congress manifesto talks about making schemes at the micro level. Apart from flood control, it also talks of a new policy that should deal with flood-proofing.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.