The ramifications of the Haor disaster
Undoubtedly, the haor disaster will break down the countrys SDGs implementation strategy by 2030. Haor flooding is not a segmented regional issue . . .
Polin Kumar Saha and Sifat E Rabbi
Very recently we have faced the unexpected flash flood disaster in Haor basin, which is located on the north-eastern parts of Bangladesh. For such a huge of physical devastation in the areas, the disaster is a great concern towards our mission of achieving the countrys Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Flash flooding is a common phenomenon in Haor and the haor inhabitants are almost habituated with the seasonal flash flooding. However, this year the flash flood strikes almost 21 days ahead of their expected time caused devastating effects on their livelihoods. At this moment, it is a matter of concern how the flood could be managed sustainably. Otherwise, the devastating impact of during and post-flood will affect our overall development paths designed on SDGs in 2030. The quick overview of sustainability assessment on haor shows flash flooding in haor interrupts four sustainability principles broadly which are dogmatic constraints against achieving a strategic path towards SDGs. The analysis shows the present violations in the context of SDGs. The violation can be classified under the four basic principles of sustainable development from the perspective of socio-ecological issues. Undoubtedly, the haor disaster will break down the countrys SDGs implementation strategy by 2030. Haor flooding is not a segmented regional issue, whereas it is a national long- term livelihoods concern. The following haor issues are interconnected with the violation of SDGs which should be focused for Haor basin management in the future:
Violating principle I: In a sustainable society, nature is not subject to systematically increasing concentrations of substances extracted from the earth crust. But a large community or a country played a role disfavoring the nature that ultimately affects on Haor basin. The mining of mineral resources in Meghalaya leads to sand intrusion into rivers, canal and agricultural lands of Bangladesh. Recent time different experts opinions have already explored the causes of sand intrusion in Haor region. We see such resource extraction in India, which has a trans-boundary environmental impact on some of our common resources, especially on water. Accumulation of sands in the down-stream after flashing out by upstream water threatens for both life below water and lives on land. The harmful minerals could blend with the flashed water, which is detrimental for water life that encounters to achieve the SDG 14. After flooding the intruded sand could barren hectors of agricultural land, which threatening on livelihoods is also a challenge to achieve SDG 15.
Violating principle II: In a sustainable society, nature is not subject to systematically increasing concentrations of substances extracted from the earth crust. Due to the sedimentation in the Haor basin, an increased condition of anaerobic bacteria in the wetlands produces a large quantity of greenhouse gases than before. These gases are released due to the pollution of water and land body in the region as the leading cause effects of mining. Therefore, the Haor disaster will also be a concern in favoring the climate action (SDG 13). However, the quantification of releases of greenhouse gases from the Haor basin is not yet sourced properly after a disaster.
Violating principle III: In a sustainable society, nature is not subject to systematically increasing degradation by physical means. The physical degradation means about a depletion of the optimum utilization of land or water body in the respective area. The flash flood washes away the top soil nutrients and in the long run, the haor basin will lose its essential soil nutrients for producing crops. However, the sand intrusion may contribute in reducing the soil nutrient which could have an effect on the haor ecosystem. The bio-network would be threatened for its sustainability in food production and consumption. The local ecosystem has already been collapsed where the food security for the large community is questionable in the future! It is hardly possible to replenish the degraded natural resources within the shortest period unless an effective mechanism is established in Haor basin management. Thus, the continuation of flash flood with the changing future climate would degrade the Haor livelihoods- is a challenge to achieve the No Poverty and Zero Hungergoals which relates the SDG 1 and SDG 2, respectively within 2030.
Violating principle IV: In the sustainable society, people are not subject to conditions that systematically undermine their capacity to meet their needs. Statistically, the recent flash flood in Haor led to a loss of 219840 hectares of agricultural land. Around 850088 families have been affected by the adverse impact of sudden flash flooding. Different physical infrastructure remains vulnerable, which is a great concern assuring the fundamental needs for the human being. For an example, damage of academic institutions will interrupt the smooth access and continuation of education considering a challenge to achieve the SDG 4 (quality of education). Destruction and inconveniency of availing the medical facilities would hamper their wellbeing and good health- challenge to achieve the SDG 3. Likewise, damage of water sources and sanitation facilities would hinder access to clean water and improved sanitation- challenge to achieve the SDG 6. Moreover, the rising unemployment rate in haor would gradually slow down the economic growth. Due to additional unemployment rate, the poverty rate will upturn and the local social security could be collapsed.
Necessary initiative: Extensive human activities must have adverse consequences in nature which needs to be controlled as much as possible. To execute any resource harvesting, a systematic approach of a sustainability framework may help in developing our strategy, policy and implementation of a project. Considering the SDGs agenda, all of our initiatives should be designed in order to achieve sustainable development goals, emphasizing to integrate with the goal 17 partnership of the goals. At this time we must focus on this goal to achieve other goals as well as solve the Haor issue. We should find out a way to stop downstream sedimentation of mining waste that both the Bangladesh and Indian government might seek for a mutual solution to. In the near future, an Indian prospective project of Uranium mining in Meghalaya will be a serious problem not only in Bangladesh but also in India itself. However, the traditional mining process is not a sustainable solution in the development agenda until an update is adapted with the latest sustainable technologies in extraction, supply and preservation. But considering the violation of principle I, resource extraction from the earth crust should be measured considering the resource recovery period to ensure the benefits for the future generation. In a partnership strategy between two governments, we have to ask the Indian government exactly about this extreme concerned issue of Bangladeshi people and the matter of using cutting edge technology that does not have a negative impact on our natural resources and livelihoods (water, fishes, land, trees or other interconnected resources) mentioned in above four dimensions of violations.
The writers are Senior Research Associates at BRAC Research and Evaluation Division
