Droughts and Floods

Featured Articles
December 12, 2022
Why farmers are not adopting crop insurance in India?
Study looks at behavioral biases in crop insurance adoption
Adoption rate of crop insurance low in India despite government efforts (Image: PxHere, CC0 Public Domain)
October 30, 2022
Slow disaster: Political ecology of hazards and everyday life in the Brahmaputra valley, Assam
This book by Dr. Mitul Baruah presents a fascinating, ethnographic account of the challenges faced by communities living in Majuli, India, one of the largest river islands in the world, which has experienced immense socio-environmental transformations over the years, processes that are emblematic of the Brahmaputra Valley as a whole. This is an excerpt from the book.
Floods are recurrent phenomena in Assam (Image: Mitul Baruah)
September 13, 2022
Chaos in a concrete jungle
Heavy rains and floods have battered Bengaluru yet again. Uncontrolled and unregulated development and concretisation of the city that pays no heed to the ecology and hydrology of the region needs to stop!
Urban flooding in Bangalore (Image Source: Thejas via Wikimedia Commons)
August 21, 2022
Floods – a boon than a bane!
Floods are not feared, but rather welcomed by the Mishing communities from Majuli island in Assam as they bring bountiful fish- a rich source of food, nutrition and livelihood for the community.
The Majuli island, a haven for fish (Image Source: Usha Dewani, India Water Portal)
August 10, 2022
Taming water - Irrigation and drought protection in colonial India and the present
The irrigation at all costs mindset and narrow policies for drought protection during the colonial rule ignored rainfed agriculture and local practices that sustained agriculture in the Bombay Deccan. This continues even today.
Recurrent droughts and the struggle for survival (Image Source: Gaurav Bhosale via Wikimedia Commons):
August 2, 2022
Floods in Assam - a boon or a bane for fish diversity?
The frequency and intensity of floods is on the rise in Assam spelling doom for fish biodiversity.
Life during floods in Assam (Image Source: Kausika Bordoloi via Wikimedia Commons)
Drought in Andhra Pradesh - Long term impacts and adaptation strategies - A report by the World Bank
A report on the drought condition in Andhra Pradesh
World Bank (WB)
Posted on 29 Aug, 2009 03:11 PM

This report published by the World Bank consists of two volumes.

Volume 1 is divided into the following chapters:
Chapter1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Drought And Andhra Pradesh’s Economy: Historical Perspective
Chapter 3: Methodological Framework
Chapter 4: Reducing Vulnerability Of Agriculture To Drought In Eight Drought-Prone Districts
Chapter 5: Managing Economic Impact of Drought at the State Level
Chapter 6: Conclusions and recommendations

India's experience with drought management: Changed perspectives and challenges
Drought is a natural disaster. Nearly 200 million ha land in India in 135 districts of 13 states are severely affected by drought four times in every 10 years.
Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation
Government of India
Posted on 29 Aug, 2009 02:43 PM

This document describes the drought situation in India over the years, the earlier perspective at drought management and the gradual change in perspective at managing droughts that evolved over the years.
Reference: Impact of climate change on major river basins in India
A short compilation of further reading and references on the impact of climate change on major river basins in India
Rama Mani
Posted on 28 Aug, 2009 03:45 PM

Climate and water resources of India, R. Ramesh* and M. G. Yadava; Current Science, VOL. 89, NO. 5, 10 SEPTEMBER 2005 - http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/sep102005/818.pdf
Effect of climate change on river Kosi and its basin
Considering the vulnerability of the Kosi's basin, the melting glaciers will acerbate the problem a hundredfold. The melting glaciers will release much more water than normal in a short time thus creating a flood situation.
Rama Mani
Posted on 28 Aug, 2009 02:46 PM

Kosi is one of Ganga's largest tributaries and in turn is fed by 7 tributaries - Sun Koshi, Dudh Koshi, Indravati, Tama Kosi, Likhu, Arun, and Tamar. These tributaries encircle Mt Everest from all sides and are fed by world's highest glaciers. The river drains a total area of 69,300 sqkm upto its confluence with Ganga. The river basin stretches 54,000 sq.kms.
Effect of climate change on the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta regions
The Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghana delta belt comprises of 105,000 sq. kms of which 2/3rds is in Bangladesh. The Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghana system has the largest catchment area of 1,100,000 km². The delta region is particularly vulnerable to seasonal floods, heavy run-offs from melting snows, and tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal. Inspite of this, it is one of the most thickly populated regions on Earth.
Rama Mani
Posted on 28 Aug, 2009 02:28 PM

The delta belt is home to approximately 125-140 million people. And over 300 million people are supported by the delta. The density of population in the Delta region is 200 people / sq.km. making it one of the densest regions in the world.

The delta region is a high-rainfall region and receives 60-80 inches of rainfall every year.
Migration and displacement due to sea-level rise: Mega-cities like Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai could be hit hard
A one-meter sea level rise will inundate 6000 square kilometers in India, of which Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai will be the major cities being affected. This would mean losses of billions of dollars in infrastructural, social, physical assets and capital.
Rama Mani
Posted on 26 Aug, 2009 05:34 PM

125 million people are likely to migrate in the coming century of which 75 million will be from Bangladesh. The people from Bangladesh will most likely migrate to India in addition to our own 50 to 60 million people who will be displaced due to sea-level rise, shrinking water sources due to CC in the densely populated coastal regions of India.
References of the impact of climate change on river deltas and other coastal areas
A short compilation of articles and reports on the impact of climate change on river deltas and other coastal areas
Rama Mani
Posted on 26 Aug, 2009 04:48 PM

Mumbai Marooned: An Enquiry into Mumbai Floods 2005 - Final Report ,
By Conservation Action Trust - Click here

Enquiry-mumbai-floods-2005-final-report
Glacier lake outburst floods: Wrecking havoc to life and property in the Himalayan region
A glacier lake outburst flood (GLOF) is caused when the glacial lakes burst their banks and cause widespread floods. In the past two decades there have been a number of glacier lake outburst floods. The increase in the melting of glaciers have led to this phenomenon.
Rama Mani
Posted on 26 Aug, 2009 03:47 PM

These floods cause havoc with human life, flora and fauna of the area and the infrastructure in the region.

The Dig Tosho Glacier lake outburst in August 1985, destroyed the nearly completed Namche hydropower plant and all the rails, roads, and other infrastructure in its course.
How climate change has affected Ladakh: The region has seen unusual floods in July 2005 and August 2006
Ladakh is known as the cold-desert and has severe conditions and is barren and arid. The region has seen unusual floods in July 2005 and August 2006.
Rama Mani
Posted on 26 Aug, 2009 03:36 PM

It is in Jammu Kashmir and is bordered by the Himalayas and the Karakoram mountain chains. Ladakh and its water sources are almost entirely dependent on the glaciers and snow-melts and changes in water systems can be directly attributed to changes in the glaciers and thus climate change.
Impact of climate change on the Himalayan glaciers
40% reduction has occurred in the Himalayan glaciers in the last 40 years. 67% of the glaciers have retreated in the last decade. Gangotri is retreating at the rate of 28 m per year. Global warming and its consequent melting of glaciers would result in floods, fast and furious run-offs, erosion of the topsoil and sedimentation of the rivers. This could also lead to changes in the course of the rivers in the region.
Rama Mani
Posted on 26 Aug, 2009 03:30 PM

The Himalayas' permanent ice cover is around 97,000 sq.km. with 12,930 sq.km. volume of ice and snow: 10-20 % are covered by glaciers and 30-40% are seasonal snowfalls. The Himalayan streams and rivers are fed by the melting of snow and ice of approximately 500 sq.km / year.
Subscribe to Droughts and Floods
×