Concreting drains not the answer to flooding: Experts
The Hindu
Instead of temporary solutions, go in for holistic approach, environmentalists urge State Government
Environmentalists and urban planning experts are critical of the State Government’s plan to reinforce storm-water drains with concrete, one of the measures announced, to mitigate flooding during the monsoon. Experts with whom The Hindu spoke, said concrete drains would serve no purpose apart from increasing the speed of water flow. The need of the hour is a more integrated and holistic approach for proper water management, they said.
After visiting the flood-hit areas over the last two days, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai announced a master plan to strengthen the SWD network by widening them, using reinforced cement concrete and also building new drains.

“Through several targeted attacks against the minorities in the name of religion, the BJP and the Sangh Parivar organisations are on a mission to fragment the State into religious segments,” said Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader and MP Thol. Thirumavalavan. He headed the protest organised by VCK here on Monday against the BJP and Sangh Parivar organisation for inciting violence based on religion. Speaking there, he said, “The RSS’s plan is specifically to turn Hindus into paupers and the Sangh Parivar organisations through intimidating the minorities, have been trying to incite communal frenzy in the State.”












