Time to bell the cat

This is regarding the editorial "Old answers for `new' monsoons" (1-15 September, 2017). Although well-intentioned, it is intriguing that the magazine can't figure the reason that simple things are not getting done even when answers are available. Be it de-silting the Bhramaputra River, interlinking rivers or making more dams or any other scheme the government is so keen to put billions of rupees into, why are we unable to acknowledge there is big money to be made in all of this? While trapping rainfall or harvesting runoff is sensible, they do not involve the scale of concentrated money that would make politicians with foresight interested. For a forester or panchayat pradhan to make a mesh of trenches on a hillside for trapping rainfall needs approval of a politician, one who has no clue about rainwater harvesting. This should clearly tell us what is at stake, but we refuse to bell the cat.

VINAY VIA EMAIL

Interlinking rivers will only add to the woes of India's `new' monsoon. It is sad to see that fllod related solutions are predominantly inclined towards engineering-based methods, which seem to control water rather than facilitate its flow in a manner which is conducive to the environment.

JASPRIT KAUR

VIA EMAIL

Faulty land use in flood plains and catchment areas are the main reasons for extreme heavy rain episodes. Deforestation, construction of roads and buildings are responsible for increasing runoff water, hence causing flooding. But there are many ways to restore the landscape. Afforestation activities can increase canopy cover and arrest the runoff. Besides reducing the impact of floods, this will also help store water underground and mitigate drought.

ASESH LAHIRI

VIA EMAIL