VPE 511: Environment and Environmental Hygiene (2+1)

Flood

FLOODS

• Inundation of extensive land area with water for many is called floods. Flood causes colossal loss of human lives and property.

Causes

• It is caused by natural and human factors.
• Natural Factors: Heavy and prolonged rainfall , blocking of free flow of the rivers due to landsides and overflowing of river banks.
• Human Factors: Building activities, channel manipulation through diversion of river course, construction of bridges, deforestation, changes in land use and blockage of water courses by plastics. Recently in Chennai, the intensity of flooding of roads and residential colonies increased due to the accumulation of plastics in water courses.

Control

• The impact of flood can be minimized by the following steps
  • The discharge of waste must be hastened.
  • The flow of water must be diverted.
  • The return runoff water from river must be delayed.
  • The flood situation must be announced to the people in advance through media.