Disaster Yes! Climate Change No!

Just government mismanagement.

Very true. Whosoever has expressed his opinion about the recent natural disaster and the plight of the affected people. But it would not be correct to express this opinion in this forum, as this is primarily for Climate change. In my opinion one cannot link the recent floods with the climate change firstly because, there is no scientific proof for this and secondly, this occured chiefly due to the laxity in the perception about the nature by general masses and politicians in particular. Recent floods in the states of UP and Bihar in India is due to the fact that many people has encroached upon the floodplains of many seasonal rivers. On the onset of monsoon these rivers swells and its floodplains are flooded and receives a valuable fertile alluvial soil, vital for agriculture. This is absolutely normal and had been happening in the past for several hundreds of years. What is abnormal, is that recently people has inadvertently encroached upon the floodplains of this rivers both through formal and informal means. To add to this, mankind has also regulated these rivers to a greater extent, in this particular case the part of Kosi river lying in Nepal were regulated by creating a dam, and the responsibilities to maintain the dam resided with governmental authorities. If the government authorities did not take proper care of the dam and it cracked due to the water pressure then who is to blame the nature or the mankind at large. So let us not make the climate change as a scapegoat for all the mismanagement we are responsible for.

Floodplains are suppose to be the natural reservoirs of the rivers, when there is sudden cloud burst or heavy rains these floodplains accommodate the extra water and releases gradually, averting any calamity, therefore it is integral part of the river. Due to the population pressure people encroaches upon the flood plains then one has to pay the price during the water surge. It is natures way of reminding mankind that, one has to remain within its limits and respect the nature.

It is a misnomer to call it a "Natural Calamity or disaster". it is nothing new it was always happening. what is although new is the way we are handling and perceiving the nature. Why cannot we have a national policy about settlement on the flood plains of the rivers, and aware the people residing in such areas.

I also want to add to this that when lakhs of people in Bihar are affected, in which many of them are children pregnant woman, elderly people who are helpless and stranded and may be praying and struggling for their next breath, then what is so important and special to mention about seven stranded Australian trekkers? I get a feeling that when Americans or Europeans or Australians are affected the world takes a notice or else it dose not. Just to mention in this regard, about 4000 people died in Hurricane Katrina in New orleans, USA and roughly 184,168 people died in Indian Ocean Tsunami in the year 2004. Yet the former death toll gets worldwide attention than the later.

Nothing Personal it is only a opinion.

Good day

Dr. Shekhar Mallick

Scientist B

Ecotoxicology and Bioremediation Group,

Environmental Sciences Division,

National Botanical Research Institute,

Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow-226001, U.P.

Ph. 0522-2205836,2205899 Ext. 221

Mobile: 09450400212

> To: ClimateConcern@yahoogroups.com

> From: eve_earthcharterfoundation@yahoo.com

> Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 06:12:18 +0000

> Subject: CCG INDIAN FLOODS KILL 2400

>

> WEATHER FORECASTERS BLAME CLIMATE CHANGE

>

> India's two years of severe monsoon rains - that many weather

> forecasters attribute to climate change - has brought this year's toll

> from floods in eastern India to more than 2400.

>

> More than 20 million people have been affected by the savage floods in

> different parts of India since June.

>

> The latest death reports were that 32 people died in floods, which

> left hundreds of thousands of people homeless.

>

> Since June the Uttar Pradesh state has been badly flooded while in the

> eastern state of Orissa, 55 people have perished in the torrential

> rains that inundated numerous villages.

>

> Seven Australian trekkers were stranded in the hill state of

> Uttrakhand, authorities reported.

>

>

> The State of the Planet

> CARBON CONFUSION