Nature warns, it does not get angry – the real reason is human negligence and unbalanced development
It would not be right to call the floods in Punjab a mere natural disaster. The nature of the rivers, abnormal rainfall and climate change are the reasons, but the real culprits are unplanned construction, illegal mining, neglect of drainage, and a paddy-dominated agricultural system. Nature warns, it does not get angry. If we give the rivers their way, use water judiciously and adopt crop diversification, then the impact of floods can be reduced. Punjab should establish a new path of development by maintaining a balance with the environment.
Punjab, which is called the country’s food-providing land, is today repeatedly grappling with the horror of floods. Fields get submerged, villages get drowned, and roads and houses collapse. Every time the question arises as to why floods occur in Punjab. Is it only nature’s anger, or are our own mistakes also responsible for it? The truth is that nature is never angry with anyone; it only works on the basis of its rules and balance. When we humans cross its limits, we have to suffer the consequences in the form of floods, drought, pollution, and disasters.
Punjab is known as the land of the five rivers. Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab, and Jhelum define the identity of this state. Most of these rivers originate from the Himalayas, and during the monsoon season, the water level suddenly rises due to the melting of snow and rainfall. The currents of the rivers are fast, and when they enter the plains, the water spreads and takes the form of floods. Big dams like Bhakra, Pong and Ranjit Sagar may have been built for flood control and irrigation, but when water is suddenly released from them, the surrounding areas get submerged. This highlights natural causes as well as a lack of management.
The monsoon pattern has changed a lot in the last few years. Earlier, where the rain used to occur gradually and for a long time, now heavy rainfall occurs suddenly in a short time. This increases the water pressure in rivers and streams rapidly and a situation like a flash flood arises. Climate scientists believe that the increase in greenhouse gases and global warming are the major reasons for this. Due to this, the Himalayan glaciers are melting rapidly. As a result, the water level of the rivers increases uncontrollably during the summer and rainy seasons.
Human intervention has played the biggest role in making natural floods destructive. Indiscriminate construction work was done on the banks and foothills of the rivers. Villages and cities settled on drains and old water streams. Excessive mining of sand and gravel changes the depth and flow of rivers. When the path of water is blocked, it enters the nearby settlements. There is a network of drains and canals in Punjab, but in most places, their cleaning and repair is not done on time. As a result, instead of flowing out, rainwater fills back up in the villages and cities. Along with this, crops like paddy exploited groundwater excessively. The water holding capacity of the soil decreased, and the natural water storage system broke down.
Punjab was the centre of the Green Revolution. Cultivation of wheat and rice here gave the country food security, but it also had its adverse effects. Paddy crop demands a lot of water. Every year, groundwater is extracted from lakhs of tube wells. Due to this, underground water sources dried up rapidly. When there was heavy rain or a flood from above, the ground could not absorb it, and the problem of waterlogging increased. Deforestation and the shrinking of green areas also disturbed the natural balance. The roots of trees on the banks of rivers used to stop water and bind the soil, but now erosion has increased.
The floods in Punjab are not just a natural disaster but also a socio-economic crisis. Thousands of acres of crops are destroyed. Farmers are forced into debt. The rural population is rendered homeless and forced to migrate. Roads, bridges and power infrastructure are severely damaged. Diseases spread, especially diarrhoea, malaria, and dengue. The mental trauma leads to a feeling of insecurity and frustration in society.
In reality, nature has no emotions. It only wants balance. When we violate its limits, it comes as a warning in the form of a flood, drought or disaster. Therefore, it is not correct to say that nature is angry. The truth is that man has created conditions that make nature angry.
The solutions are clear. Flood zones along the river banks should be identified, and construction should be completely banned there. Old drains and gutters should be cleaned and widened regularly. Illegal mining should be strictly prohibited so that rivers can flow in their natural form. Cultivation of maize, pulses, and vegetables should be promoted instead of paddy, which will reduce water consumption and improve the groundwater level. The state and central governments will have to make a long-term plan together to deal with the effects of climate change. It is also necessary to train local people for flood prevention and management.
The flood crisis in Punjab is not only due to natural causes. It is the result of the unbalanced direction of our development policies. If we still do not learn a lesson, then floods can become more terrible in the coming years. Nature is repeatedly warning us not to tamper with it. We have to remember that the permanent solution is not to fight with nature, but to be in harmony with it. The flood in Punjab is not just a disaster, but a test of our policies, habits, and priorities.
