Editorials/Opinions Analysis For UPSC 23 August 2024

CONTENTS

1. Monsoon Mayhem: Tackling Urban Flooding
2. India- Maldives Ties

Monsoon Mayhem: Tackling Urban Flooding

Context:

In a warming world, sea surface temperatures are rising, leading to increased evaporation and the formation of moisture-laden clouds. When conditions are right, this results in continuous rainfall, often with half the annual precipitation occurring within 24 to 48 hours. Urban infrastructure struggles to cope, leading to flooding on roads, in public spaces, and in the basements of buildings, causing disruptions to rail, road, and air traffic, as well as to businesses. Rural areas are severely affected, with crop losses, landslides, and landslips in hilly regions claiming lives, livelihoods, and destabilizing the economy.

Relevance:

GS3- Disaster Management

Mains Question:

There is urgent need for comprehensive disaster management and infrastructure reforms to protect lives and property from future monsoon fury. Discuss in the context of rising disasters triggered by heavy rainfalls in urban areas. (15 Marks, 250 Words).

The Disaster in Wayanad:

• This situation places additional pressure on public finances, as funds must be redirected to rebuild damaged infrastructure and compensate for private property losses.
• The disaster that struck Wayanad on July 30th, claiming over 400 lives and injuring an equal number, stands out as one of the most devastating in recent memory.
• In that event, large boulders and stones from an 8.26-hectare area at 1550 meters above sea level rolled down a 7 km slope, causing destruction to buildings, roads, and bridges in villages located 650 meters above sea level.
• A one-ton boulder gained the energy of 9 megajoules, enough to destroy a reinforced concrete building in a rural area.
• Monsoon havoc has caused similar damage in other regions, including the Western Ghats and the Himalayas, where landslides and road and bridge damage have created significant challenges for residents and tourists in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

The Issues Facing Metropolitan Cities:

• The deaths of three civil service aspirants in the basement flooding of Rau’s coaching centre in Rajendranagar, Delhi last month, along with another aspirant who died from electrocution, serve as stark reminders of the negligence of civic authorities.
• It is essential to understand the precautions that agencies and building occupants must take to prevent such tragedies from recurring.
• Previously, Mumbai’s civic body had designed stormwater drains and related infrastructure to handle 25 mm of rain per hour.
• In recent years, severe flooding has repeatedly occurred, forcing authorities to redesign their drainage systems to handle more intense rainfall, up to 50 mm per hour.
• However, in places like Mumbai, Ratnagiri, Satara, Mahabaleshwar, and other locations, rainfall rates of 80 to 100 mm per hour have been recorded.
• Similarly, certain regions in the country are experiencing frequent cloudbursts, resulting in 80 to 100 mm of rainfall per hour for three to four hours.
• The Wayanad tragedy was triggered by 570 mm of rain in just 48 hours.
• In many metropolitan cities, stormwater drains are partially encroached upon, with small huts erected for living.
• These occupants should be relocated, and the drains fully opened to allow the proper flow of water.
• It is important to note that the existing stormwater drains are insufficient to handle more than 25 mm of rainfall per hour.
• Many urban lake beds have been encroached upon, reducing their capacity to store water. This reduction means that during heavy rainfall, water flows into the basements and ground floors of buildings, causing significant hardship for residents.
• In November 2015, Chennai experienced one of its worst disasters due to continuous rainfall of approximately 483 mm in 24 hours. The flooding claimed 500 lives, submerged nearly 1 million homes, and displaced 1.8 million people.
• Two main factors contributed to this catastrophe: the encroachment on lake beds in Chennai and the delay in regulating the water levels in the Chembaram Bakkam reservoir.
• The situation was brought under control only after 1.5 lakh cusecs of water from the reservoir were released into the Adiyar River.
• In Chennai, many wetlands have been occupied by communities. The Pallikarnai wetland, which once covered over 5,000 hectares, has now shrunk to just 500 hectares, or 10% of its original size.
• If these encroachments are not cleared, similar tragedies are likely to occur in the future.
• In cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Gurugram, floodwaters often get trapped in the basements of homes, requiring time and energy to pump out.

Way Forward:

• Drains should be regularly de-silted and cleared of debris such as plastics, polythene bags, and silt, which should be disposed of at distant locations.
• The lakes in cities, which act as balancing reservoirs, should have their water levels regulated by properly managing the sluice gates.
• Periodic de-weeding and de-silting of lakes are also necessary to keep the water clean and maintain them at maximum flood levels.
• All lake inlets must be monitored to ensure that untreated sewage is not entering these reservoirs.
• To prevent lake water from entering homes during flash floods, it is crucial to ensure that sewage water does not backflow into residences.
• Civic authorities in cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Delhi, Gurugram, and others should upgrade their drainage systems to accommodate at least 100 mm of rain per hour. Additionally, encroachments on stormwater drains and lake beds must be removed.
• Civic bodies must take precautions when working on drainage systems for stormwater and sewer lines, ensuring that drains and manholes are covered to prevent accidental falls, especially when flooded roads resemble flowing rivers.
• It is advisable to construct a sump beneath the basement to harvest rainwater, which can later be used for various purposes.
• If the basement is kept clean, the collected floodwater could be of drinkable quality.
• While many civic bodies require water harvesting structures for new constructions, these often focus only on rooftop water collection, overlooking basements that are prone to flooding during cloudbursts.

Conclusion:

Water harvesting in basements should be made mandatory and strictly enforced. Building by-laws should be amended by civic agencies to ensure that basements are used solely for parking vehicles, storing unserviceable items, and water harvesting/storage. Under no circumstances should basements be permitted for use as living spaces, hotels, or businesses.

India- Maldives Ties

Context:

India’s recent outreach to the Maldives, marked by the Indian External Affairs Minister’s visit to the island nation a few weeks ago, signals an effort to reset the currently strained bilateral relationship. After the new President, Mohammed Muizzu, took office, there was a surge of anti-India sentiments that disrupted decades of strategic defense partnerships.

Relevance:

GS2-

• Bilateral Groupings and Agreements
• Groupings and Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India’s Interests
• Effect of Policies and Politics of Countries on India’s Interests
• Important International Institutions

Mains Question:

What have been the recent areas of contention in India- Maldives ties? Is the Maldives now trying to mend fences with India? Analyse. (10 Marks, 150 Words).

Historical Ties:

• The diplomatic and political relationship between India and the Maldives dates back to 1965, when the British relinquished control of the islands.
• Since the Maldives transitioned to democracy in 2008, India has invested significant time in cultivating deep relationships with various stakeholders in the country, including political, military, business, and civil society leaders.

Maldives’ Significance for India:

• Strategic Location: Situated to the south of India, the Maldives holds considerable strategic importance in the Indian Ocean, serving as a gateway to the Arabian Sea and beyond. This strategic position allows India to monitor maritime traffic and bolster regional security.
• Cultural Link: Buddhism was the predominant religion in the Maldivian islands until the first half of the 12th century, with evidence of Vajrayana Buddhism’s presence in ancient times.
• Regional Stability: A stable and prosperous Maldives is aligned with India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy, which aims to promote peace and security in the Indian Ocean region.

India’s Significance for the Maldives:

• Essential Supplies: India is a vital supplier of everyday essentials to the Maldives, including rice, spices, fruits, vegetables, and medicines.
• Education: India is the primary destination for Maldivian students pursuing higher education, offering scholarships and opportunities in Indian institutions.
• Disaster Assistance: India has consistently provided aid during crises, such as tsunamis and drinking water shortages. During the Covid-19 pandemic, India supplied essential items, demonstrating its role as a reliable partner.
• Security Provider: India has a history of offering security assistance, notably intervening during a coup attempt in 1988 through Operation Cactus and conducting joint naval exercises to safeguard the Maldives. These exercises include “Ekuverin,” “Dosti,” and “Ekatha.”
• Tourism Dominance: Since the Covid-19 pandemic, Indian tourists have become the leading source market for the Maldives. In 2023, they made up a significant 11.2% of total tourist arrivals, with 1.842 million visitors.

A Downward Trend in Relations:

• Tensions have recently escalated due to undiplomatic remarks made by Maldivian ministers targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi specifically, and Indians in general.
• The new government, led by President Mohamed Muizzu, has requested the withdrawal of Indian military personnel and selected China as one of the destinations for his early overseas visits.
• During this visit, President Muizzu also encouraged China to reclaim the top position in tourist arrivals, a spot that has been dominated by India in recent years.
• The current government came to power on an ‘India Out’ campaign. A report by the EU Election Observation Mission of Maldives noted that the ruling coalition used anti-India sentiments and spread disinformation during the 2023 presidential elections, which resulted in Mr. Muizzu’s victory.
• Additionally, the Maldives has decided not to renew an agreement with India regarding a hydrographic survey of its waters.
• This agreement, signed in 2019, allowed India to conduct surveys of Maldivian territorial waters, including studying and charting reefs, lagoons, coastlines, ocean currents, and tide levels.

A Significant Shift:

• However, things began to change earlier this year, with President Muizzu being invited to attend Prime Minister Modi’s third swearing-in ceremony in June.
• During his speech at the inauguration of India-assisted water and sewerage projects across 28 islands in the Maldives, President Muizzu expressed deep gratitude to Indian Prime Minister, the Indian government, and the people of India for their continued support.
• This speech indicated a shift in thinking regarding relations with India and perhaps an unspoken recognition that the Maldives needs India’s help to overcome its financial challenges.
• The Maldives requires millions of dollars in budgetary support, and while the President has sought assistance from China, Türkiye, and some Middle Eastern nations, these potential bailouts come with stringent conditions that could pose risks in the future.
• Meanwhile, India, despite facing difficulties, has shown its commitment by rolling over nearly $100 million in payments due from the Maldives to alleviate its financial burden.
• The Maldives seems to have recognized that beyond the “India Out” rhetoric, recalibrating its bilateral relationship with India, particularly in economic and security matters, would be a wise move for a stronger partnership.
• Notably, several critical India-assisted infrastructure projects, initiated before President Muizzu’s tenure, played a significant role during S. Jaishankar’s visit to Malé.
• The press release from the ministry emphasized that “EAM visited the India-assisted Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP) site and jointly reviewed the progress of this flagship development project, which will link Malé with the neighboring islands of Villingili, Gulhifalhu, and Thilafushi. EAM also visited Addu City on August 11, 2024, where he, along with the Foreign Minister and the Minister of Construction and Infrastructure, jointly inaugurated the Addu Reclamation and Shore Protection Project and the Addu Detour Link Bridge Project.”
• This visit highlights the importance of the Maldives, India’s maritime neighbor, as a vital partner in the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and India’s Vision ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region).
• The Maldives continues to be a key ally for India in ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region.
• India and the Maldives are mutually dependent when it comes to addressing economic, security, and climate change-related challenges.

Conclusion:

The tensions in the Maldives-India relationship also send a broader message to the new government in Bangladesh, which has historically not fully aligned with India’s concerns. While the interim government in Bangladesh has maintained a moderate approach to bilateral relations with India, the political parties in power might not be as accommodating in the future. Like many of India’s neighbors, Bangladesh is also facing a severe economic crisis, and it may eventually realize that fostering a good relationship with India is in its best interest.