JORHAT, Oct 20: As recurring floods continue to shatter the State?s economy with alarming regularity, a book on the genesis of the problem has lately drawn Dr APJ Abdul Kalam?s attention.
Despatching a letter dated August 10 from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to the Editor of the anthology Dr Prabhat Chandra Sabhapandit at his Nehru Park residence here, the missile man-turned President of India wrote: ?Thank you for sending me a copy of the book titled Flood problem of Assam: Cause and remedies.
Having gone through the volume, I liked chapters 11 and 12 in particular, where some good solutions to deal with the problem have been given. Of course, a long-term solution may be inter-linking of rivers,? he concluded.
The book contains a compilation of selected papers presented at a two-day UGC-sponsored national-level seminar held at the Jorhat College starting February 4, 2000, and edited by the institution?s then principal Dr PC Sabhapandit.
Modest enough to admit before this newspaper, the Editor remarked, ?despite lacking technical competence to edit such an anthology, it is my humble endeavour to highlight a chronic problem and seek pragmatic solutions?. Continuing, he emphasised, ?deserving recognition as a national problem, the persistent phenomenon has been to a great extent responsible for the economic instability of Assam in particular and the Northeast in general.?
Turning to chapter 11, the topic, ?Delineation and characterisation of flood-sand deposits in Dhemaji district for productive land use?, is jointly authored by U Baruah, S Vadivelu and BP Bhaskar of the National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning.
The approach of Dr AR Boruah of the Assam Agricultural University in his paper titled, ?Alternative livelihood in flood-affected areas of Assam?, as depicted in chapter 12, is unique in the sense that it makes out a strong case for co-existing with floods. His emphasis is on devising alternative means of livelihood for people living in flood-prone areas, which includes fishery, livestock, horticulture, agro-forestry and the like.
Summarising, Dr Sabhapandit mentions: ?Flood control measures hitherto undertaken have not yielded gainful results. They are in most cases inadequate, ineffective and wasteful.
An integrated basin management approach which is based on the principle of soil and water conservation as well as sustainable development appears to be a more appropriate long-term strategy. Adjusting the crop calender to avoid the fury of floods and to ensure better yield are suggested as another non-structural measure?.
Additionally, ?regional and global cooperation are essential for any major initiative to address the problem in both the Brahmaputra and the Barak Valleys. Application of latest technologies and knowhow is yet another aspect that merits attention?, he reasoned. ?Instead of sticking steadfastly to piecemeal or ad hoc measures, solutions of an integrated and holistic nature where social, human and ecological consideration weigh over parochial technical answers should be considered,? he justified.
As the torrential Red River snakes its way 724 kms across the State, ?adoption of a comprehensive action plan with ingredients borrowed from above may perhaps contribute to ensure food, health and ecological security, besides harnessing water for the welfare of society?, the Editor deduced.
Earlier, as scholars, technocrats and representatives of NGOs identified three major factors aggravating floods in the State, they subsequently adopted 11 resolutions at the seminar. For the record, the inaugural speech was delivered by internationally acclaimed mathematician and then Vice-Chancellor of Tezpur Central University, Professor Pradipeswar Bhattacharyya.
Significantly, Professor Bhattacharyya harped on restricting the human factor of corruption. Often witnessed during awarding of ?lucrative? contracts and implementation of flood management projects, he wondered whether the Assamse ever contemplated adopting apt procedures for curbing this cancerous trend.
For otherwise, ?prosperous local farmers often find themselves reduced to landless paupers overnight, as they become victims of flood-induced erosion?, he discerned, ?as a vicious circle merrily feasts on the spoils of corruption with impunity?.