Letters: Flood threats

With reference to "The new extreme reality of floods" (September 12), human beings are indeed exerting more influence on flooding today than ever before. The author has described changes in a category of floods - fluvial flood that is riverine flooding which is either caused due to flow of water level over the edge of a river or due to quick torrential rain for small duration (flash floods). The damage is intense in the latter.

However, another type of flooding that has become a menace in the recent past is pluvial flood, that is flooding over surface independent of the source of water. The devastating Chennai floods last year or the Mumbai floods of 2005 are peculiar examples of this. These are grim reminders of the perils that lay ahead if we continue the current way of living.

Unplanned expansion of infrastructure and agriculture along with neglect of possible environmental damage has hit us and will continue to do so. With signs of sprouting environmental consciousness all over, hopes rest on the government, the private sector and the people that sensible living would be embraced.

Sachin V K Jadhav, Washim

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