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CoverStory KERALA FLOODS

dents of Kerala will forget in their lives. In fact, out- THE COMMON
flow from reservoirs in Kerala began days before
the flooding started, but this release of water did not
help prevent flooding. Mainly due to the intensity MAN STOOD
of rains.
According to IMD, Kerala received 39% more rain-
fall than normal during the South West Monsoon. WITH KERALA
Classified as “Excess”, the state got 302.7mm ac-
tual average rainfall, which is more than thrice the
normal rainfall average between August 16 and Good samaritans poured into Kerala from across the country,
August 22. regardless of their caste, creed, region or religion in sharp contrast
Three years ago in December 2015, Chennai to political parties and politicians who seemed eager to earn brownie
received its largest rainfall in a century to flood the points rather than do what was needed the most to people — help
city and neighbouring districts that left a trail of and understanding. Volunteers thronged Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta,
destruction. Kochi and Thrissur, the worst affected areas, to save the lives of
If Chennai was a trailer, Kerala and Kodagu marooned people. Rescue missions, relief centres sprung up
(Coorg) in Karnataka, are warning signals to the rest of wherever they could.
the country that Mother Nature was angry — Fishermen, truck drivers, government servants, policemen, and
angry over wanton destruction of nature due to youth brigade got together in mounting relief, rescue operations.
human greed, and could strike at will anywhere Fishermen came out with their boats and truck drivers drove through
in the country. Experts believe this flooding as a flooded roads, risking their own lives to reach relief materials to the
cause of climate change induced by destruction of flood victims.
environment and ecology. Capital city of Thiruvananthapuram was spared by Mother Nature.
For sure, this is a self-made natural disaster that Here collection centres were set up in different places as also relief
the mankind has inflicted upon itself and Indians camps. People from across the globe descended on Thiruvanan-
have done it more efficiently — the destruction of thapuram as also people pitched in with help from whichever part of
nature without any regard for the environment. And the world they were in, taking stock of requirements and facilitating
will have to pay the price. them online.
Kerala and Kodagu floods were predicted a Now as the people began shifting out of relief camps to their own
few years ago, but the warnings were thoroughly Kerala floods homes, the magnitude of the task of rebuilding has struck them.
ignored by the authorities, under political dispensa- damaged 57,000 Many people lost their entire household goods besides extensive
hectares of crops
tions of different colours. damage to their houses. But the immediate need was cleaning off
Experts predict that next in line would be Goa that their homes.
is also afflicted with all the ills that environmentalists Fishermen, children of the sea, rose up to the task and turned
have been complaining about. In Kerala, flooding of Kochi airport is a shining heroes of the day.. 1200 fishermen brought out their 460 outboard
In 2011, the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, example of poor planning that caused a disaster. Built engine boats and innumerable catamarans to rescue many stranded
chaired by the internationally renowned ecologist The economic impact on the paddy fields and wetlands next to Periyar river, it people and taking them to relief camps.
Madhav Gadgil, had warned an ill-thought focus runs up to the banks of the river on one side. “The sons of the sea are turning into role models of the people.
on development was impacting the sustainability of the floods, according When a number of dams on the river had to They saved many of those marooned in the floods, and when things
of the Western Ghats hill chain, one of the world’s be opened due to heavy showers, the airport was turned chaotic, they rushed out to save lives on their own,” said state
most biodiverse areas that run along the west to the Kerala CM, was submerged and all operations had to be stopped. The fisheries minister J Mercikutty Amma.
coast of India. estimated loss of at least 500 crore due to closure. The fishermen also pooled money from their own pockets to hire
He urged both Karnataka and Kerala, among immense with a large Kerala has 44 rivers and built 61 dams over them. trucks to take their boats to the extent possible to the flooded areas.
others, to adopt a more thoughtful approach to Many of these dams had to be opened to release excess “We are just trying to give back here because our lives were simi-
conservation, limiting activities such as quarry- number of small and water that led to heavy flooding. larly devastated when the Cyclone Ockhi struck,” said fisherman V
ing, dams, and construction near protected forests Never were these dams inspected for pre and post- Rubin. Fishing villages Vizhinjam, Poonthura and Veli, which bore the
in hilly areas. This report was rejected by central as monsoon safety brunt of the cyclone last November, have sent over 100 boats.
well as state governments. medium-scale firms The Periyar river is not the only one that has been Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was quick to acknowledge
In 2015, the Karnataka government had cut down dammed. The state of Kerala has 44 rivers with a total the efforts of fishermen and declared that all fishermen who took
thousands of trees to erect High-tension electric being heavily affected of 61 dams. Many had to be opened across Kerala as part in the rescue mission would be felicitated. “The fishermen
wires through Kodagu. Then there is uncontrolled they were dangerously full — a step that, while essential intervened in a great way. Many of their vessels got damaged. The
sand mining in river beds, all across India, rapid by the floodwaters during a time of emergency, contributed to the heavy government would compensate them for the loss suffered. Apart from
urbanisation that were leading to flash floods and flooding. None of these dams were subjected to pre and that, a fisherman would be given 3,000 a day using a boat and the
landslides during heavy rains. Multi-storey buildings post-monsoon inspections. state would meet the fuel expenses too,” he said. But the fishermen
were leading to weakening of soil too. Kochi is just one example, even Mumbai airport too were quick to make it clear they were doing it out of their own free will
and not for money at all.

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