Have we learnt from past floods? Clearly not!
Following the devastating floods in Jammu and Kashmir, one can only wonder how prepared Lucknow would be if such a calamity were to strike here. And if one goes by past experiences, the answer would leave much to be desired.
The same river Gomti that thins down to almost a stream in the lean season increases its flow by almost a 100% during the monsoon. The river’s track record of floods shows that it created havoc in 1871, 1891, 1894, 1915, 1923, 1960 and 1971.
The Roll of Masters in the main hall of the Masonic Lodge reads ‘Founded 1848, washed away 1871.’ This building is about 20m above the bed of the Ghaziuddin Haider Canal, which means that the backwaters of Gomti had flooded the canal and water level rose high enough to wash away the massive structure. Likewise in 1923, Gomti’s flood was considered the most dreadful, as it had affected about 2000 people in Hussainabad area.
Similarly, those born in early fifties will recall the great flood of Gomti in 1960 and again in 1971. Large areas in Mahanagar, Faizabad Road, New Hyderabad, Ashok Marg and Narhi were inundated. After 1971, there has been a complete change in the scenario. Bunds were built on both banks of the Gomti and also Kukrail nullah to save the inhabitants settled on the banks.
While these bunds act as dams for the rain- water, the also cause large areas of the city to get waterlogged. The situation now is so bad that even after a few millimeters rain large areas of the city become miniature lakes.
It is well known that the Ganga-Yamuna plains were formed due to deposition of layers alluvium by the rivers during annual floods. However, we have denied that opportunity to Gomti. Every year the river brings a load of sediments during the monsoon, but due to the bunds it cannot spread it on its banks. The river bed is thus continuously rising.
Yet, despite knowing the consequences, we have created Gomti Nagar and settled a large chunk of population there. It is the posh colony of Lucknow. So is Rajbag in Srinagar. It is a thumb rule that a settlement should not be created within the flood pathway of the river, which is the area that was submerged under one foot of water in the past 100 years.
With this definition, it is amply clear how vulnerable we are to the fury of the Gomti.