The aftermath of floods in Bihar

Asix-member central team will reach Bihar on Monday to assess the damage caused by floods since June this year. Besides affecting three million people in 14 districts (September 3), this year’s flooding is emerging as a flashpoint between the Janata Dal (United) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in the backdrop of enhanced tensions within the ruling alliance in Bihar. On the floods, Bihar has asked the Centre to frame a national silting policy and revisit the design of the Farakka barrage.

While the state and Centre discuss flood-related damages and measures to contain it, both also need to consider another aspect. Floods are becoming a recurring danger to the sustainability of the state’s efforts for open defecation-free status. They threaten toilet structures (built under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Lohiya Swachh Bihar Abhiyan) and prevent user-access during difficult times. In a floodprone state, it is important that governments take into account ecological and hydro-geological variations, flood typologies, location of habitations and floodscapes, to ensure that development funds are not wasted. There are solutions available. The Phaydemand Shauchalaya (beneficial toilets) are elevated, ensure ecological sanitation, protect and conserve water, and sanitise faecal material. This is just one example. But in a climate crisis-hit world, when extreme rainfall events and flooding are becoming the norm, it is crucial to work towards building flood-resilient habitat and infrastructure to save costs and human lives. India must not fall behind on indicators where it has made progress.