International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 05 Issue: 05 | May 2018 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072
A Case study on the flood situation of Assam State
Ar. Rakesh Kumar1, Ar. Agrawal Raghav2 1Assistant Professor, Amity school of Architecture and Planning, Amity University Haryana, India 2 Assistant Professor, Amity school of Architecture and Planning, Amity University Haryana, India ---------------------------------------------------------------------***--------------------------------------------------------------------- Abstract: The Brahmaputra River has been the lifeline of northeastern India since ages. Brahmaputra is an important river for irrigation and transportation in the state of Assam, India. About 2,900 km long and with an average depth of 38 m mighty river is prone to catastrophic flooding in spring when the Himalayan snows melt. The average discharge of the river is about 19,300 cubic metres per second and floods can reach over 100,000 cubic metres per second. .In this paper, an attempt has been made to define the past trend in bank erosion due to flood and its mitigation in Assam. .Based 2. OBJECTIVE on analysis and the data collected from the Water The objective of the task is to conduct a review of flood Resource Department, Guwahati, this paper presents the studies conducted for Guwahati which cover disaster mitigating or controlling the negative impacts of bank risk related issues including the risk related to climate erosion due to frequent flood occurrence. change and different vulnerabilities that triggering the impact of floods. The review will also reflect the list of 1. INTRODUCTION findings and suggestion in terms of two timeframe – short and long term. The purpose is to turn knowledge The Brahmaputra river originates in a great glacier into action. This is not an academic review but an mass in Kailas range of the Himalayas (elevation action oriented review. 5300m) and flows through China, India and Bangladesh for a total distance of 2800 km before 3. FLOOD HAVOC CAUSED IN THE STATE empting into the Bay of Bengal. It drains a combine The different major tributaries of Brahmaputra river international area of approximately 580,000 sq.km. It such as Dihang, Subansiri, Dibang, Luit, Manas,etc. and is fourth largest river in the world in terms of average the significant tributaries and sub tributaries like discharge at the mouth. Prior to the great earthquake Jiadhol, Ranganadi, Gainadi, Simenn Nadi, Burhidihing, in the entire north east in 1950, the river had a well- Kopili, Dudhnoi, Krishnai, Bolbola, Beki, Pagladia are defined course with stable banks. However, the entire associated with the Brahmaputra valley that has scenario changed after the earthquake of 1950, as a always been causing a periodic flood havoc in monsoon result of which, the mountain system of north east got a seasons. The periodic flood havoc is one of the main big jolt and tributaries started to carry huge quantity of reasons for which it has always interrupted in silt which got deposited on the bed of Brahmaputra. increasing trend of per capita income in the state. The Because of this, the river lost its original equilibrium state has to lose huge quantity of cultivation on lakhs of and started causing erosion in both the banks. hectares of land apart from river bank erosion has been taken place in hundreds of hectares of land. In this consequence, watershed prioritization and management of each and every rivers have come most important for mitigation of flood hazards in their downstream areas. Failure of embankments at
thousands of villages along with affecting lakhs of people. Districts of Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh, Sonitpur, Nagaon, Morigaon, Nalbari, Barpeta are the worst affected region due to failure of embankments.
4. PROCESS
5. FLOOD CAUSING BANK EROSION IN THE STATE
The instability of the river due to high sediment deposit, transverse gradient and steep slope leads to erosion. The silt brought in the process of the instable flow, gets deposited as a river descends into the plains with sudden reduction in slope, with the consequent reduction in the flow velocity and sediment carrying capacity. Due to this heavy deposition of silt, the river Erosion menace: Since 1954 till 2008 frequently changes its course with the main channel Total area eroded = 4, 27,000 Ha. flowing into multiple channels hitting the river bank (7.4% of plain area of Assam) causing severe bank erosion. Thus, the excessive Rate of erosion = 8,000 Ha. / year. sediment transported down from uphill are deposited Table 1: Overall damage due to bank erosion in Assam in the flood plain as well as in the river bed causing rise (Bhuyan, 2013) in its bed level. This causes reduction in natural discharge carrying capacity and the river tends to widen by eroding its bank. The widening of Brahmaputra River in Assam is triggering unprecedented erosion. 1. First survey (1912-1928): area : 3870 square km. 2. Second survey (1963-1975): area : 4850 square km. 3. Third survey (2006 NESAC): area : 6080 square km. Indications: The river area increase by more than 50% by the way of erosion. The idea behind this scheme is for supporting the rural groups who have requirement of being paid for their jobs that can either be manual or unskilled.
5. MITIGATION ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN due to high currents does not occur, which may lead to underscoring action and failure of the geo mat. The various flood management activities taken up of short and medium term measures by the Brahmaputra REFERENCES Board, Ministry of Water Resources and Water Resource Department of Assam under various policy [1] Coleman, J.M.(1969), “Brahmaputra River: channel initiatives. These measures include construction of process and sedimentation”, Sedimentary Geology, bank revetments, stone spurs, porcupines, bolder Vol. 3, 129-239 deflectors, etc. But now a days an advance technique is [2] Goswami, D. (1985), “Brahmaputra River Assam, designed for flood protection and anti-erosion works India, Physiography, Basin denudation and channel aggradation”, Water Resources Research 21(7), using geotextiles and geobags for protection of the 959-978. banks. [3] Bhuyan, D.k. (2013), “ Flood Management activities Of impending flood and rising water level in the rivers in Assam”, Assam Water Conference- 2013, 15-20. on day-to-day basis. Since flood is the regular [4] Assam State Disaster Management Authority (2012) phenomena in the district so it is essential to monitor „Relief Camp details‟, Guwahati, Assam the situation in advance for better preparedness. BIOGRAPHIES According to the rainfall in the catchment area and Ar. Rakesh Kumar prediction of IMD, there was high possibility of the Graduated(B.Arch.) from MANIT Bhopal, M. Plan. from SPA Bhopal. flood hitting the district this year, a number of Currently working as Asst. necessary arrangements / exercises have been carried Professor in Amity University, out i.e. identification of potentially weak areas along Haryana. embankments and river banks, capacity building, quick Ar. Agrawal Raghav response, early warning etc. All the potentially weak Completed M.Arch. (Architectural embankments were identified as vulnerable sites and Pedagogy) from Jamia Millia mapped by the Water Resource Department. Islamia University – New Delhi and Immediately after the warning for severe rainfall at the graduaten in B.Arch from ZHCET, AMU, Aligarh in 2014. Rendered catchment areas and speculation of flooding of the Architecture services at district, a 24x7 Emergency Control Room has been Archopolis, Design Forum and Fair established with adequate number of supporting staffs wood in NCR. Currently working as and officers. Asst. Professor at Amity University, Haryana.
6. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The main vision of flood management in North Eastern states especially in Assam is that Assam is mainly dependent on cultivation not only for its economy but also for the overall development like cultural, social development, etc. flood affects badly on the economy of Assam. If proper actions are not taken against flood then it may affect the lives of the people along with the economy of the state. Vulnerable sections of the Brahmaputra river should be determined and geo mat should be provided to stop erosion. People residing on the river side should be relocated to the country side so that less damage occurs during flood. Geo mat should be properly installed so that seepage action of water
