Editorial
The developing flood situation
How prepared are we to tackle it?
The flood situation in the country is beginning to assume worrying proportions. Reports coming in, especially from the northern regions of Bangladesh, point to a clear and continuing rise in the level of rivers. In recent days, the Brahmaputra, Meghna and Jamuna have all risen, with the result that people now apprehend serious floods to occur this year. The persistent rainfall of the last one week or so has naturally worsened conditions. There is now the apprehension that floods might sooner or later affect the middle and perhaps the lower regions of the country and even the capital Dhaka might fall prey to it. Despite the fact that experts do not foresee a situation that could be alarming, there is every reason for the authorities to be careful and get prepared to meet any exigency.In the present circumstances, with people in the north already affected through their homesteads and crops going under water, it becomes essential for the ministry of disaster preparedness and management to gear up its relief efforts. Food, clothes and water purification tablets are, as usual, in great demand in the flood-affected areas. To what extent the ministry and other relevant organisations of the government are ready to provide such emergency services must be made known. We understand that a committee on disaster management has had no meeting in a long time. If it has not, now is the time for it chart out a mitigation course. One must not ignore the fact that the floods have come at a time when citizens are already reeling under the weight of high prices. In such a dire situation, it is imperative that the authorities ensure that a social security net is in place. A particular aspect related to floods or a rise in the level of rivers is information exchange between India and Bangladesh on the issue. With India being the upper riparian, it is expected that the two countries will continually and especially in the flood season be in communication regarding the situation. In such times as the present, such information exchange needs to be accelerated. Finally, a whole lot depends on how cogently our meteorological data are analysed and forecasts accurately made of the changing pattern of rainfall and the behaviour of our river system.
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