A JOURNAL OF COMPOSITION THEORY ISSN : 0731-6755 An Assessment of Flood in Kuttanadu : A Study on Infrastructural Damages to Household and Coping Mechanism of the Local Self Government institutions. Sooryalekshmi.S, Guest lecturer, Sree Narayana College Varkala, Thiruvananthapuram Email : [email protected] Abstract Kerala has overcome the days of massive floods. Hard-work and money was enough to recover from all the losses occurred. At the same time, there are certain things that cannot be fixed again even if you invest your thoughts, hard work or more capital. Amongst them, Kuttanad takes a major share. All of Kerala is highly dependent on Kuttanad for their food that are yielded in a systemic and periodic method of cultivation .It is considered as the only place where in the world where rice cultivation is done up to 2 metres below the sea level. A place of this kind, is now, pushing all of the limits to recover from the disastrous flooding. So It is very important to understand the impact of floods on the life and existence of the people of Kuttanad. This study was conducted in selected panchayaths falling in Alapuzha part of Kuttanadu. Despite trying to understand the plight of the people and damages occurred, it also tries to identify the remedial strategies adopted by the local self governing bodies and the people of Kuttanad .Results suggest that Kuttanad was experienced the worst flood in the last two decades. Water level was raised to about 5 feet in the most places and 100 percentage of the surveyed household where affected to some extent. Results also show that two third of the surveyed areas in Kuttanad are in flood prone zone and flooded at least once a year. Most of the household who where frequently suffering, fall in BPL category. Drinking water scarcity is also raised as a crucial problem. This study also throws some light on the effort taken by Kerala government in rebuilding Kerala from a disastrous flood. Key Words : Flood Damage, Flood Prone Zone, Reservoir, Volume XII Issue XI NOVEMBER 2019 Page No: 192 A JOURNAL OF COMPOSITION THEORY ISSN : 0731-6755 Introduction According to IMD data, from June 1, 2018 to August 19, 2018, Kerala received 2346.6 mm of rainfall. Many areas of Kerala were submerged due to heavy rains by the end of July . The disastrous rain experienced in the days of August 8 and 9 in many parts of the state have caused the water levels in many reservoirs have increased to full reservoir level. From August 14 to 19, there was a steady increase in rainfall. Thirteen out of the 14 districts of Kerala had recorded the highest rainfall in history in the following days. As per the rainfall records of IMD, it has been found that the rainfall depths recorded during the 15-17, August 2018 were comparable to the severe storm that occurred in the year 1924. The floods that devastated Kerala in August 2018 had a significant impact on the population of Kerala. It is estimated that 23 million people were affected and 504 people died. 10319 houses were completely destroyed. It is estimated that over 100,000 homes were partially damaged, 220000 homeless, 3000km of roads flooded and 60,000 hectares of crops destroyed. The total economic loss is estimated as $ 1billion (Kerala floods joint detailed need assessment report _sphere india) The most devastating flood in Kerala's history was in 1924. All the rivers were overflowing, causing damage to life, property and crops. This was followed by a similar flood in 1961. The monsoon of 1961 strengthened towards the end of June and caused heavy rains in the southern districts of Kerala in the first days of August. Gradually, the intensity of the rains spread to other parts of the state and the state was subjected to severe flooding. Objectives 1. To study the impact of flood in Kerala 2. Try to know the damages of households in the flood affected areas of kuttanad 3. Analyse the role of local self- government institutions in overcoming flooding. Alappuzha district experienced immense calamities in the monsoon causing significant damage to life and property. Alappuzha is rated as the most flood prone district in Kerala. The entire series of events in Alappuzha can be divided into two distinct phases, the first phase started from 15.07.2018 and the second phase started from 15.08.2018. The first phase of floods was characterised by inundation of most of the villages in Kuttanad area.The Volume XII Issue XI NOVEMBER 2019 Page No: 193 A JOURNAL OF COMPOSITION THEORY ISSN : 0731-6755 second phase was more furious with flash floods and inundation in hitherto unflooded areas in Chengannur area and flooding in many low lying areas in the district. Alapuzha witnessed a rainfall departure of 29% excess during the current monsoon period from 01 June 2018 to 22 August 2018. Shortage of food and water in the isolated areas added upto the fear raising grave concern over the stranded population. However, concrete efforts from all sides including the local public, elected representatives, different forces, fishermen etc joining hands with the district administration helped in curtailing the death toll. Rescue operations in Kuttanad area was lead by Sri. Krishna Teja Mylavarapu IAS, Sub Collector, Alappuzha (Sources:Managing the disaster: a report on handling of kerala floods 2018 in Alappuzha district) Preparedness by various government departments in Alappuzha Every canals, ponds, rivers, streams and wells in the district should be cleaned. For making these areas more capable of holding water for reducing flood, required measures should be taken by the departments. This is to be done through Haritha Keralam and MNREGA For conserving initial rainfall happening in the district, required measures should be taken by these departments. Required messages and awareness should be given for conservation of water by irrigation department. It was decided to hold meetings of DDMA before the 30th May ensuring participation of the Co-Chairperson of the authority, the District Panchayath President for preparedness of monsoon. Required measures should be taken by the Social Protection Officer for giving shelter, food and water to people who are living in streets during the rainy season, in consultation with the District Collector. Action taken to ensure that the instructions given in the Handbook of Disaster Management- Volume 2- Emergency Operating Centres and Emergency Support Functions Plan, Kerala about the working of Revenue, Police, Fire force is followed. It is the responsibility of the EOC to pass on information to officials and elected representatives. New applications like WhatsApp should be utilized for this purpose. Volume XII Issue XI NOVEMBER 2019 Page No: 194 A JOURNAL OF COMPOSITION THEORY ISSN : 0731-6755 At least one place should be identified in disaster prone areas to establish camps as and when required. Supply officers are assigned to procure Rice, Green gram, oil, Kerosene etc and keep it in warehouse, to take whenever the need comes. It has been directed to arrange general goods, vegetables, fish, meat, oil, kerosene; gas etc from Government authorized agencies like Supplyco, Consumer Fed, Horticorp, Matsyafed, Kepco etc IMPACT OF FLOOD IN KUTTANAD Kuttanad is mostly confined to the present-day Alapuzha district, and also includes some portions of Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts. Several rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats, meet the Vembanad Lake in the region before joining the Arabian Sea. Most parts of Kuttanad is located at elevations below mean sea level. Kuttanad is delta land of about 900 sq.km1 .Prior to the monsoons, saline intrusions enter Kuttanad through the connections of the Lake with the Sea. During monsoons, the region is heavily prone to flooding. Cultivation is done at average elevations of 1.2 to 3 metres below mean sea level. Kuttanad Taluk, known as the rice bowl of the state, has a predominant position in the production of rice A study by the National Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS 2010 cited in KSDMA n.d) shows that more than 50% percentage of area in Alappuzha is identified as flood prone and most of these are confined to the Kuttanad region. Some or the other part of the region gets inundated almost every year and the efforts to curb the flooding had begun way back in the 1934 (pp.73 KSSP 1978 cited in Chandy 2013). The Kerala State Action Plan on Climate Change lists Alappuzha district as very highly vulnerable alongside Palakkad. The network of environmentally sensitive wetlands was one of the reasons for the district to be classified under this category (Nandakumar 2014). Kuttanad is geographically a unique zone. It is the broad wetland zone situated around the Vembanad Lake system.. It is mainly the deltaic zone of the major rivers of south Kerala, such as the Achenkovil, Pampa, Manimala and Meenachil. In the past, the marshy soil in this zone was regularly enriched by deposits of a tremendous amount of silt through the river systems of the region in the monsoon season. The clayey paddy soil in the area remained highly fertile and very suitable for paddy cultivation. Volume XII Issue XI NOVEMBER 2019 Page No: 195 A JOURNAL OF COMPOSITION THEORY ISSN : 0731-6755 Due to the heavy rainfall from the South West Monsoon, most of the places in the district were affected by floods especially in Kuttanad Taluk where various Roads, Bunds etc. were broken, transport services banned. Chengannur and Kuttanad Taluks ,were the worstly affected regions in Alappuzha district with thousands of people got trapped in flood waters that rushed to thickly populated areas in a short span of time.Kuttanad Taluk started getting inundated due to high rainfall from the monsoon and high tides in the sea and hence non residential camps were started.673 Relief camps were functioning in Alappuzha district alone Image :flood prone areas in Kuttanad Operation Rehabilitation, a drive to make the houses habitable and safe return of the flood-hit people from the relief camps to their respective homes was organized in Kuttanad on August Volume XII Issue XI NOVEMBER 2019 Page No: 196 A JOURNAL OF COMPOSITION THEORY ISSN : 0731-6755 28th, 29th and 30th 2018.