By
Yumna Sarwar
Dams have been built since ancient times for production of hyd power, storage of water at a large scale for irrigation and for flood prevention. In the light of recent floods, dam construction is being cited as a key means of controlling water flow and preventing floods. This faith in dams may be misplaced as multiple examples all over the world have shown that dams do not always help mitigate floods and, in fact, may worsen the outcomes. The 1992 flood in Pakistan is a good example, when Mangla Dam not only failed to handle a large inflow, but exacerbated the damage, due to the sudden unnatural release of excessive water at once.
Aside from their glaring socioeconomic damages, they have detrimental effects on the environment such as:
- Emission of significant amounts of greenhouse gases due to the rotting of vegetation and soils flooded by reservoirs as well as all the organic matter found in them,
- Deforestation for dam construction,
- Changes caused in the ecosystem downriver that deprives various ecosystems of nutrients.
Such drastic environmental changes contribute to the climate crisis that is triggering more frequent natural disasters like floods.
Instead of focusing on building new large dams, old dams can be maintained to increase their efficacy. Also, since hydel power generation is one of the reasons underlying dam construction, the government can seek alternative methods of electricity generation based on local conditions. For instance, solar and wind energy may be harnessed to overcome the energy crisis. Bio fuel production can be supported and encouraged in villages to make them self- reliant.
When it comes to averting floods, miscellaneous techniques can be incorporated after taking into account the specific areas, their needs and characteristics.
A major strategy of managing floods is the conservation of riparian zones which are the areas of naturally forested lands next to rivers and streams.
When these areas are deforested or have structures built upon them, they lose their natural ability to absorb water and slow down water flow thereby leading to floods. Floodplain vegetation also helps in absorbing the excess water underground where it recharges the underground aquifers.
Similarly, flooding is prevented in urban areas by proper design that focuses on factors like an adequate drainage system. It would also include integrating features like detention basins that can temporarily hold floodwater, the strategic placement of vegetation, adding bio-retention basins and other similar elements alongside roads and streets, and storage of excessive rainwater that can be used to meet domestic water demands, to name a few.
Finally, we must realize that one of the key players in the global warming crisis and its various manifestations like floods and droughts, is the capitalist and consumerist system in place which has led to exploitation and over consumption of the resources Allah (swt) has blessed us with.
We must play our part by taking steps that help prevent environmental change while also working towards the implementation of the Shariah, which will ensure that decisions are made for the benefit of the Ummah and not profit or politics.
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