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Dear Readers,

                The national as well as the regional media is crying out loud against the purported mismanagement of the flood like situations prevailing in quite a few districts all around the state by the Government of Rajasthan. The point to be highlighted here is that the worst affected areas are the ones which happen to be cases of encroachments upon ecology and environment. This charge does not in any way absolve the state machinery of its lethargy and inactivity but none the less, compels us to rethink our urban planning. 

                All across our India, urban drainage is a major issue. Precarious rainfalls during the monsoons disables us to confront this problem head on. Consequently, when ever it rains in excess, we find our cities submerged under water. To make matters worse, in many cities and towns people are colonising areas earmarked as lakes, rivers, rivulets or other natural drainage systems. We are simply encroaching upon our ecology and blocking natural outflows of the life sustaining liquid. 

                Examples abound. During the devastating floods of Mumbai in 2008, researchers found out that the city had expanded at the cost of Mithi, Dahisa, Poisar, Oshiwara rivers thus contracting their river beds and volume of discharge. The same is the case in other towns and metropolis. If we speak of Jaipur, we learn that human settements have now come to occupy most of what once used to be the Aman-i Shah nala. Similarly, in the city of Jodhpur, large colonies have been carved out along the course of the Jojhari river.  

              Yesterday,while researching at the Rajasthan State Archives, Bikaner,  I came across a piece of information which proves to be highly opportune. The Imperial Gazetter of India Provincial Rajpuatana written in AD 1901 sheds some valuable light on the legend of Aman-i Shah nala. The British officer who reported on this matter calls the same channel, Aman-i Shah river. He adds that  this river originating near Amber is one of the finest source of fresh water for the city of Jaipur. Today, if you look at the same river bed, you would feel sorry for the state of affairs of our environment. Slums have cropped up all along the channel whereas cemented houses have been constructed at some points. Thus, we can say that we are not simply vulnerable to floods but are welcoming them. .....