GANGTOK,: Sensitization camps and setting up of evacuation strategies have been initiated by the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) for around 19 locations along the Teesta riverine belt identified as vulnerable during this approaching monsoon.
The degree of vulnerability varies location-wise but in general, these settlements close to Teesta River stare at increased threats to life and properties due to two major concerns. It would be the first monsoon after October 2023 flash flood which has bulked the Teesta river bed and made its flow unpredictable. Secondly, heavy rainfall events are expected to swell the river level with no dams in operation to check Teesta River’s flow this above-normal monsoon.
The SSDMA along with local authorities have already completed monsoon-related awareness camps for Melli, Chungthang and Phidang, where they also held Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) for the local populace to pencil the best evacuation routes in case of flood threats in these vulnerable locations.
As SSDMA authorities explain, PRA is done in consultation with the local people to draw a map of local important sites like schools, police station, BAC and food godowns. The most important objective of PRA is to tell the people where to go during threats of natural calamities, and to draw the best and quickest route to the identified safe locations and relief centres. Schools in the area are already designated as relief centres during such incidents.
Some of the Teesta belt locations where evacuation maps are to be framed during PRAs are Sangakalang (Dzongu), Dikchu, Singtam, Adarshgaon, Mamring, Samardong, Golitar, Rangpo IBM, Bageykhola, Bardang, Majhitar and Sirwani. All these settlements are close to the Teesta river.
One strong advisory is that people should be cautious while approaching the rivers, since heavy upstream rains leads to sudden rise in the water levels as it happened on Saturday evening. Three persons had ventured into the river for fishing but were marooned in the middle of Rangpo river on the West Bengal side due to intense rains. They were later successfully evacuated by the rescue teams.
Instances of sudden increase in the river’s flow are expected to happen regularly in coming three months. On this concern, the Central Water Commission (CWC) is constantly monitoring the water levels and working closely with the State authorities for giving timely flood alerts through its three Level Forecasting Sites (LFS).
The CWC has installed one LFS each at Melli for Teesta river, Rothak for Rangit river and Singtam for Rani Khola. Despite the heavy downpour of Saturday, the three rivers are flowing below their warning levels at their respective LFS, as per the CWC data of Sunday afternoon.
“We are monitoring the water levels of the rivers of Sikkim every hour and sharing the updates with the State and district authorities. If there is any abnormal rise, it will be immediately communicated to the authorities,” said CWC officials to SIKKIM EXPRESS.
Meanwhile, the warning levels of the rivers in Sikkim have been revised by the CWC following the October 2023 flash flood. We have revised the warning level tentatively based on the Teesta river’s morphology change, siltation and the new heights the river bed has reached…the flood forecast will be on these updated levels, said the CWC officials.
The CWC operates 14 hydrological observation sites in Teesta and Rangit rivers, and their tributaries.
The CWC has suggested to the Sikkim government certain structural and non-structural measures to address the flood and erosion-related challenges in Teesta river during monsoons.
On structural measures, it was suggested to install embankments and anti-erosion flood protection walls on the river banks so that Teesta river do not breach into human settlements and properties.
One particular suggestion made by the CWC was to frame floodplain zoning regulations along the riverine belts. Under this concept, activities are to be regulated in the river’s vicinity wherein certain activities are permitted or not permitted at specific distances from the river banks to prevent loss of lives when flash flood breaks out.
This suggestion, as informed, is at present in a discussion stage.