ASSAM-ADAPTATIONS TO FLOODS
source- Down To Earth
Context:
Assamese is learning to live with floods that are an annual occurrence in the state. They are adopting climate-proofing or flood-resilient mechanisms to cope with floods better.
The Brahmaputra:
- Dhemaji, the worst flood-affected district in Assam, is in the foothills of the Himalayas.
- The Brahmaputra and its tributaries traverse from the hills of Arunachal Pradesh through this district.
- The river naturally changes its course frequently and flows through several channels.
- Changes in rainfall patterns, especially heavy rainfall events upstream, have made it more volatile.
- The river changed its course thrice in the last four years. It flowed stable and sturdy towards the southwest between 2006-2015, before changing in 2016.
- The course of the river is never predicted as it keeps shifting. People have to be prepared always and resilience is the only way to survive.
Adaptations:
- A shelter was built in 2017 after 57 households in a village demande it in 2015.
- It serves as an immediate shelter when the floods arrive, with the river flowing just a kilometre away from the village.
- Almost all the houses are raised above the ground to protect them from small floods.
- A rescue team(Rural Volunteer Center-RVC) is formed with the help of the National and State Disaster response force.
- The villagers have shifted cropping patterns by cultivating more rabi than Kharif crops.
- Vegetables like potato, tomato, eggplant, okra, and peas were cultivated instead of Kharif paddy, which is slowly fading.
- More land is shifted towards Borough rice, which is sown in November and harvested by march or April.
- Cultivating Mustard and pulses is started.
- Rearing ducks is also started.
- A child-friendly space is built on an elevated platform, conceived by RVC so that children's studies and activities don't get disturbed.
- Elevated Hand pumps are constructed with the help of RVC, as it will be difficult for water sources during floods.
- In districts like Nalbari and Kamrup, 185 tube wells and 9 elevated shelters are built with the help of non-profit Gramya Vikas Manch.
- Local Anganwadis are renovated so that children use them as school classrooms.
Epilogue:
Through raised shelters, and changing crop patterns, Assamese are adapting to climate change and floods.
