Wetlands very vulnerable

Chennai: Wetlands are the most vulnerable and yet most useful ecosystems. They are the only insurance when sea levels rise, said Dr Karen Coelho Assistant Professor, Madras Institute for Development Studies (MIDS) at a seminar on ‘Natural Events; Natural Disasters’ wherein the dangers of neglecting wetlands and riverine ecosystems were highlighted on Wednesday.

Shashi Shekhar, Former Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation addressed the gathering and said that modern policymakers are seeing wetlands as low lying areas as a wasteland. They fill it up and sanction projects to build factories, he said.

Emphasising that there isn’t even a single river in the country, apart from the Brahmaputra which is “alive,” in the sense that it flows all year round, Shashi said that people nowadays are unable to connect with rivers, which have been diverted in all sorts of ways in the name of irrigation.

The irrigation department, ideally, should be the groundwater department. Groundwater requires to be taken care of, for it to take care of us, Shashi said, adding that it provides security to humankind.

 T. Peter of National Fish Workers Forum of Kerala along with three other fishermen who actively took part in the rescue works during the floods n Kerala in August imparted important information for the Tamil Nadu government to take cognisance. They also shared personal stories of their rescue work, especially before the Navy and Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) were able to pitch in.

 Nothing that the Navy could not help a lot of people, Peter said that at least seven Navy men would go on a boat for a rescue operation. Due to the lack of space, they could only bring back two at a time. The boats of fisherfolk, however, could bring back at least 40-50 people at a time.

 Struggling in wet clothes, no food and resorting to eating coconuts for meals, the fisherfolk put their lives on the line to rescue people but the government has paid no heed to their rehabilitation, they say. They only have one demand, to help restore their boats and provide basic utilities required for fishing.