This is refers to Sunita Narain’s column “Floods and climate change” (September 12). Floods are also natural disasters and we need effective management to mitigate them. It is difficult to predict floods since it involves many unknown factors that cause a high intensity of rainfall and complete protection from floods can seldom be achieved. Flood-control works aim at minimising the damage caused by floods and protecting as large an area as possible against them as is economically justifiable. To reduce the loss of life and property, the strengthening of flood forecasting and warning is essential, which is lacking at present. The best way to control floods is to intercept them with storage reservoirs so that moderate floods are allowed to flow through the valley below. Interlinking of rivers is one of the solutions that can help divert excess flow to rain-deficient areas. However, because of politics little headway has been made towards dealing with this issue. India’s future depends on the proper planning of water resources.
Sushil Bakliwal, Jaipur
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