Thiruvananthapuram: As Kerala battles widespread flooding, particularly in the central districts where rivers have overflowed after heavy rain, an ambitious flood-mitigation initiative modelled on the Dutch “Room for the River” concept remains largely on paper.Assembly records show the project had neither secured funding nor progressed beyond preliminary studies, even eight years after the devastating 2018 floods brought attention to the Dutch model, which is designed to give rivers more space to safely carry excess water during floods. The former LDF govt had said Kerala intended to adapt the model as part of its post-flood rebuilding strategy, particularly in the flood-prone, low-lying Kuttanad region, much of which lies about two to three metres below sea level.In a written reply in the assembly on Feb 2, former water resources minister Roshy Augustine said the initiative remained at the feasibility-study stage and no funds had been mobilised for its implementation. The reply said govt was undertaking a feasibility study on flood-control interventions in Kuttanad based on recommendations in a report submitted by IIT Madras. Referring to a proposed flood channel in the region, it said: “As part of the project, the estimate for the topographical investigation for constructing a channel parallel to the Koran Kuzhi Thodu has been finalised and submitted to the Rebuild Kerala Initiative.”According to environmentalist Sridhar Radhakrishnan, the “Room for the River” concept remains still relevant for Kerala. “The previous govt was never serious about implementing the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) after the 2018 floods, which proposed the ‘Room for the River’ concept. Had Kerala invested in natural flood-mitigation infrastructure by restoring rivers, lakes, streams and water channels, it could have effectively implemented the ‘Room for the River and Live with Water’ approach. Very little has been done on that front. What Kerala now needs is a dedicated ecological restoration fund in the state budget,” he said.The minister’s disclosure contrasts with the enthusiasm the concept generated after then chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s visit to Netherlands in May 2019. During the 13-day European tour, Vijayan visited Dutch flood-management projects, including the Noordwaard ‘Room for the River’ project and the Port of Rotterdam. He also held discussions with Dutch ministries, water-management experts and institutions on possible cooperation in flood control and water management.Developed in Netherlands around 2000 and implemented at more than 30 locations, the Room for the River concept involves measures such as lowering floodplains, creating or deepening side channels, strengthening embankments and removing obstructions so that rivers can safely accommodate high flows during extreme rainfall events.In Kerala, the concept later evolved into the proposed “Room for Pampa” pilot centred on Pamba river basin and the Kuttanad region. Anchored by the state planning board with inputs from Dutch experts and govt agencies, the initiative envisaged clearing obstructions along Pamba, widening and deepening selected stretches to improve flow, strengthening regulators to prevent backflow into paddy fields and improving the connectivity of drainage channels to Vembanad Lake and Thottappally Spillway. Ironically, Pamba was among the rivers that overflowed over the past two days, triggering widespread flooding and heavy losses in Pathanamthitta district.
