Press release

Flood miseries could have been minimised with timely release of water from dams, says ActionAid

New Delhi, 6 July 2007: Deaths and losses due to the current floods across several states in the country cannot only be attributed to rains but also to mismanagement of water levels in big and small dams, says ActionAid.

In Gujarat alone, more than 11000 villages have been affected by the onslaught of rains. The death toll has gone up to 122 with thousands rendered homeless.

The latest Central Water Commission report, had already warned that as many as 41 reservoirs across the country were choking with excess water and that might result in disastrous floods, especially in the western and southern belt of the country.

These 41 dams had water filled up to more than 20 per cent of their capacity while another 20 had water stored more than one-third of their storage capacity. 

Ideally, the storage level in reservoirs should be 10 percent or less than their capacity.

Floods in Gujarat could have been significantly toned down had the water levels in these reservoirs been properly maintained. Heavy downpour has left at least 30 medium dams, most of them in Saurashtra, overflowing. 

Nattubhai Jemabhai, a 50-year-old farmer from Gokharwada village in Surendranagar district says:

“All the small dams downstream of the big Vasan and Vaghoda dams broke down because of the sudden release of water from the big dams. 

“These big dams already had 30% water before the onset of monsoon. Obviously they could not take in the sudden deluge. Had the dams been emptied before the monsoon, villages and farmlands downstream could have been saved.” 

“The state government must take the initiative to bring down the water levels in these reservoirs.

“Or else more catastrophic floods can be expected,” warned Javed Ameer of ActionAid.

ActionAid’s emergencies and conflict advisor, Unnikrishnan said:

“The flood situation in Gujarat is compelling to look at the impact of big dams and other government misadventures like the interlinking of rivers.

“Increase in the water levels in the reservoirs during monsoons just adds to the miseries of the people and their recovery is going to be a long nightmare.

Elsewhere in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, post-flood situation is equally precarious, despite efforts by aid agencies, NGOs and the government. This raises serious concern as to whether we have an adequate disaster preparedness mechanism in place. 

ActionAid says clear lessons from the past disasters have been not paid heed to. It is crucial to prioritise the need for disaster preparedness and to engage community members in disaster preparedness response.

Talking of the government’s disaster response, ActionAid’s emergencies and conflict advisor, Unnikrishnan said:

“Government must ensure policies and mechanisms to deal with natural hazards and prevent them from becoming disasters. 

“In a disaster situation women and children are worst affected and their needs are often ignored especially the needs of lactating and menstruating women. Their needs should also be reflected in disaster response and relief work for those affected. 

The groundswell of the flood-affected survivors should be a wake up call for the government to work out a sustainable safety net for people beyond immediate relief.

We also call upon the government to meet the commitments made at Kobe Conference, 2005 to Hyogo Framework of Action towards disaster reduction.

Spokespeople:

Unnikrishnan, ActionAid’s Emergencies and conflict advisor, +91 98450 91319
Vishwat Tvv ActionAid Andhra Pradesh, +91 98666 50300
Javed Ameen, ActionAid Gujarat region, +91 94264 07379
Madhukar Namdev Rao Gumble, Apeksha Society, an ActionAid partner in Maharashtra, +91 94221 90811

Notes to editor:

Hyogo Framework of Action is a set of guidelines on how countries can reduce disaster. Kobe Conference was held in 2005 and attended by 168 countries. 

ActionAid along with partner organizations is proactively involved in impact assessment and relief work in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra while efforts are on in West Bengal. For more information see:
ActionAid responds as monsoon wreaks havoc

ActionAid is an international anti-poverty agency working in over 40 countries, taking sides with poor people to end poverty and injustice together.

ENDS