[Assam] Floods

Chan Mahanta cmahanta at charter.net
Wed Jul 4 13:26:18 PDT 2007 

Ram:


>I have heard dredging doesn't work,



*** That was determined by some IAS babus, who were intimidated by 
the thought of  finding a place for the dredged silt.

US corps of engineers routinely dredge the major waterways to keep 
the navigational channels open, including the one on our back-yard, 
the Missouri and its sister  river, the  Mississippi.

Some are concerned about undermining the foundations of bridge piers. 
But that is not a serious problem.  Almost all the major bridges 
built  earlier than  say ten years back, would have little to worry, 
since the silt that has settled since then, when dredged, still will 
reach the levels at which they were cast. And that alone will carry 
huge amounts of water more than the rivers do now.

But if some IAS-wallas expect to dredge without having to remove 
some of the material a short distance away, obviously are expecting 
miracles, like they are used to.  There is no free lunch. Question is 
how much the alternative's cost?

Once the waterways are dredged, and allowed to flow with less 
resistance, the weak banks would also encounter less erosive 
pressures and erosion will become less virulent.







At 12:21 PM -0600 7/4/07, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>C'da
>
>  >*** Yes, you are off base here Ram :-).
>
>I was actually talking about the Brahmaputra itself. I am wondering 
>how can human intervention change the course of the river? say in a 
>short time span (10-50 years). I have heard dredging doesn't work, 
>dams don't either and would have thought, that one could put up 
>embankments in one place, but the river would find some other place 
>(weak).
>The river wins in the end :)
>
>About Guwahati itself - I agree. A lot of the planning is faulty 
>planning, misspent/misdirected resources, corruption, and a general 
>lack of or indifference of civic sense among the citizenry.
>
>The recent move by the city to ban all plastic bags from stores 
>-because the bags are thrown out by consumers (actually thrown out - 
>anywhere outside their well-kept homes) clog the drains - causing 
>floods is good.
>But it is like putting the cart before the horse. Bad or no drainage 
>may be amajor problem, but the City's floods seem to have a host of 
>other reasons as well.
>
>--Ram
>
>
>
>
>
>On 7/4/07, Chan Mahanta 
><<mailto:cmahanta at charter.net>cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
>
>>  >
>>
>>IMHO, the annual floods are are going to happen every year. I don't 
>>think we can increase/or decrease floods by human action.
>>
>>The river will find the weakest embankments to crest, and will do so.
>>
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>
>*** Yes, you are off base here Ram :-).
>
>
>There is an enormous  amount that could be done and not a moment too soon.
>
>
>BTW, Guwahati flooding is entirely a man-made phenomenon.  It is the 
>Indian style of non-planning, uneducated citizenry and dysfunctional 
>govt. bodies that has caused it. To resolve the problem, much that 
>was done to desecrate the city has to be undone. And it will need 
>foresight, political will and resources. The last could be 
>generated. The first is widely available. But the the one in the 
>middle is the weak link.
>
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>At 11:40 AM -0600 7/4/07, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>
>>Hi KJD,
>>
>
>
>  >In my considered opinion,the problem of flood is the 
>most >menacing natural calamity,experienced by the state every 
>year >particularly since the great earthquake of 1950
>
>
>
>I agree, this is a much bigger and affecting more people than Engg. 
>colleges. And this is a problem that happens every year.
>
>
>
>Yes, Umesh did report "after the negative reception he received at 
>Boston conference ". Don't know exactly what that means - but will 
>just leave it at that,
>
>
>
>Regarding the annual floods: Here are thoughts (and I could be 
>totally off base in my assumptions)
>
>
>
>IMHO, the annual floods are are going to happen every year. I don't 
>think we can increase/or decrease floods by human action.
>
>The river will find the weakest embankments to crest, and will do so.
>
>
>
>So, what exactly can the state do?
>
>It can be ready for it every year by taking evasive actions.
>
>Can be ready with large scale evacuvation plans including livestock
>
>Can identify Highly flood prone areas, and advice settlers of the dangers.
>
>Be prepared with medical facilities
>
>Rescue operation readiness
>
>Help farmers get back on their feet with seed/fertilizer supplies etc.
>
>Help farmers acquire flood insurance - the state can mandate 
>insurance companies that they must offer reduced rates for farmers. 
>The state govt. can help farmers with the bulk of the premiums.
>
>
>
>The list can go on.
>
>
>
>--Ram
>
>
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>
>On 7/4/07, kamal deka <<mailto:kjit.deka at gmail.com>kjit.deka at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>Hi RS,
>
>My attention was drawn to the following remark,made by Umesh 
>Sarma.He wrote and I quote " after the negative reception he 
>received at Boston conference where he was only questioned about 
>annual flooding "
>
>
>
>In my considered opinion,the problem of flood is the most menacing 
>natural calamity,experienced by the state every year particularly 
>since the great earthquake of 1950.The stagnancy of economy of the 
>state owes much to this recurrent menace.For example,in the course 
>of last ten years,the total damage caused by floods to 
>crops,habitation of people and lives of cattle is estimated at over 
>Rs.1000 crores.
>
>
>
>The dream of setting up of 111 engineering colleges in Assam is okay 
>( how many medical colleges will be needed to look after the 
>ailments of these folks,I wonder ?).But then,one must remember that 
>76% of Assam's population is rural-based,who eke out a living from 
>their poor surroundings and where facilities in the area of 
>power,basic education ,health care 
>benefits,roads/communication/transport etc.are non-existent.Unless 
>these areas are taken care of by the government,economic prosperity 
>is impossible,even if you build thousands of engineering colleges.
>
>
>
>KJD
>
>
>
>On 7/4/07, Ram Sarangapani 
><<mailto:assamrs at gmail.com>assamrs at gmail.com > wrote:
>
>Thank you, Umesh for providing an exhaustive account of Assam 2007.
>
>  any mecal colleges
>
>--Ram da
>
>
>
>On 7/3/07, umesh sharma <<mailto:jaipurschool at yahoo.com> 
>jaipurschool at yahoo.com > wrote:
>
>
>
>Hi,
>
>In the Day 2 of the meeting (on Sunday July 1st, 2007) we arrived 
>just in time to have the lunch (got value for money - the $110 we 
>had paid each for the Assam 2007) - I was able to identify the dish 
>with the shrimp (and avoided a painful alergy outbreak ) .
>
>
>At the same time meeting of Assam Society was going on - I could 
>make out the sentences in English which were focused on non-profit 
>work and fund-raising (of about $2,500 only) and projects been 
>sponsored and monitored in Assam.
>
>  Later Partha-da Gogoi presented a passionate presentation for the 
>self-help groups and business initiative and mentoring for 
>engineering students etc  <http://www.nepif.weblet.in/> 
>http://www.nepif.weblet.in/   North East Professional Institutes 
>Forum
>
>under the leadership of Assam Institute of Management 
><http://www.aimguwahati.com/> http://www.aimguwahati.com/ -- which 
>was later shown in front of the Chief Minister --
>
>alongwith a presentation slideshow of 
><http://www.pearllifeline.com/> http://www.pearllifeline.com/ funded 
>and spearheaded by an NRI/NRA 
><http://www.assamtribune.com/may0507/Photo4.html>http://www.assamtribune.com/may0507/Photo4.html 
>who advised US President George Bush on medical stuff.
>
><http://www.posoowa.org/2007/06/30/a-need-for-expanding-engineering-education-facilities-in-assam-for-economic-growth-and-human-development/>http://www.posoowa.org/2007/06/30/a-need-for-expanding-engineering-education-facilities-in-assam-for-economic-growth-and-human-development/
>After that was the persuasive presentation for promoting engineering 
>college by Jugal-da Kalita based on research by Jugal-da (IIT , Phd 
>UPenn - Ivy League Univ, Prof Computer Science, Colorado) , Umesh-da 
>Tabildar (IIT , NASA, USA ), Jukti-da Kalita (IIT, IIM, PhD 
>Columbia) , Mantu-da Bhaishya ( BITS, Pilani ) , Ganesh-a Bora (PhD 
>Kansas - Agriculture engineering)  , Durba-da Bhattacharya (Prof 
>Computer science - Tejpur Univ, Assam)
>
>--- with comments on it by  Gautom Barua (Director IIT- Guwahati 
>Computer Science) and other IIT profs and Dipankar-da Medhi (Prof 
>Computer Science at Kansas and AssamNet Co-founder)
>
>The Chief Minster was in a state of bliss --- especially after the 
>negative reception  he received at Boston conference where he was 
>only questioned about the annual flooding of Guwahati (he later 
>spoke of Global Warming which might lead initail floods by melting 
>of glaciers followed by drought - when no more glaciers). He said 
>that he is so pleased with these presentation which have a positive 
>note and aim to improve the situation of Assam.
>
>Main Points of the engineering college presentation -- Orissa has 
>13,000 employed by Infosys for computer work -- even though has much 
>worse travel connection than Assam. Gautam Barua (IIT - G director) 
>was told by Infosys Chief (Nilekani is IIT batchmate of Gautam-da ) 
>that Assam only produces 750 engg grads compared to 13,000 by Orissa 
>- and Infosys wants 80% of its employees to be local -atleast.
>
>Second, Assam has 2.5% of India's population but only 0.2% of its 
>engineering colleges and only 0.17% of its engineering graduates. I 
>agreed with Jugal-da that engineering education might act as a 
>"pull" in improving basic education (at school level) .
>
>  Later during lunch Jugal-da, Partha-da and others were having 
>lively discussion with the CM. The CM had declared that his govt had 
>declared already that the year 2007 was the Year of Education and 
>passed a Bill (confirmed by his ADC later to  me) to open privately 
>run engineering colleges etc. Jugal-da however, told me that he was 
>not able to lay hands on any such Bill being passed by Assam govt - 
>but may have been introduced.
>
>I was within one feet of the CM and  even made eye contact but I 
>conceded to the stalwarts waiting to talk to him - who could have 
>more immediate impact or synergy.
>
>Partha-da in his very professional approach  showed that it was 
>possible to  have business outreach delegations to US  -- since 
>backward states like Jharkhand and  Uttranchal have been  making 
>waves in US. Utpal-da Brahma  (IIT, IIM  and  National Defense 
>Academy  selected  ) was of the opinion that  first  local Indian 
>companies need to  be invited to Assam and  based on their 
>performance MNCs would  get attracted to  invest  (FDI) in Assam. 
>
>There are more than one way to skin a cat , however!!!!
>
>Jugal-da and Partha-da rightly noted that NRAs have yet to get 
>involved with entrepreneurial ventures and thus, professional 
>education is the key to economic development of Assam -- a fact 
>whole heartedly agreed  to by Assam Chief Minister.
>
>He did say the Assam's economy was growing at 3% before his tenure 
>and now is at 6% and want it to go up to 8-9%  to catch up with rest 
>of India - and negated my question (anonymous) that corruption was 
>on the rise otherwise how could current growth be possible.
>
>(My comment - Indian embassy in DC has now opened doors for anyone 
>seeking corroption of any other info - under RTI - Right To Info Act)
>
>Any comments?
>
>Umesh
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Umesh Sharma
>
>Washington D.C.
>
>1-202-215-4328 [Cell]
>
>Ed.M. - International Education Policy
>Harvard Graduate School of Education,
>Harvard University,
>Class of 2005
>
><http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html>http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html 
>(Edu info)
>
><http://hbswk.hbs.edu/> http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)
>
>
>
>
><http://www.gse.harvard.edu/iep>www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the 
>above 2 are used )
>
>
>
>
><http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/>http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
>
>
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