Visit of the central team in LDV district and Chief Minister’s inspection of the flood affected areas of Namsing Circle in Mebo of East Siang on Tuesday have ushered a bit of hope if something substantially effective arrives now in fighting the state’s annual floods. Initiatives of visiting flood-affected areas are laudable, but, the element of scepticism will be hard to suppress, since, in general, surveys and on-spot inspections that generate hype do not get proportionately reflected in the final step, i.e. implementation in the state. This is a great deficiency the state’s governance is plagued with since decades, causing ‘net development’ not reaching desired heights.

It needs no reiteration that among all nature-induced calamities that Arunachal faces, floods causing wide-scale destruction of life and property including human displacement is an annual challenge. In particular, the mighty Siang and its tributaries wreak havoc and this time it has been terrible due to above-average rainfall. The Mebo sub-division in East Siang district has been in the news since July last for a trail of destruction. It can be recalled that the approach road of Steel Bridge over Sille river of Niglok village was completely washed away and the Mebo-Dhola road, a major communication lifeline of the area had undergone major damages. It has also been reported in the media that erosion of banks of Siang has made Sigar Primary School in the sub-division extremely vulnerable. Along with infrastructure damages, a major worry will be wiping away of 700 hectares of agricultural land in the district which is a major contributor to the state’s overall rice production. Coming to the response pattern, it should be said that it has been disproportionate to the actual needs, especially in terms of effectiveness. The immediate example at hand will be the 35 cr mega flood control project along the left bank of Siang which was rolled out just in May last. But, in the very first season, it has shown limitations, making it essential to conduct a thorough technical reassessment.

It can be assumed that the visiting Central team must have gathered a fair amount of idea regarding the state’s flood-mitigation needs. It must also not escape their attention how the state's hapless people on their own with limited resources have been battling the annual flood furies for so long, which is actually the responsibility of the nation and state. It’s high time a major shift in the planning process is made. No ad hoc measure in fighting Arunachal’s floods is going to pay dividend. Only long-term, that too with infusion of latest technology can be an answer.

The Central government should think about it at once and extend financial as well as technical support. State administration must also make sure the funds are appropriately utilised.