It has been a little over two years now since the mysterious discolouration syndrome of Siang river caused much uproar not only in India and subcontinent, but also world across. For every one, local people and scientific community alike, it was completely baffling since hardly such a phenomenon was observed. The matter lost attention of its initial high degree as ‘normalcy’ in terms of colour and consequences returned after a certain period of time. But just at the time when it seemed the issued has lapsed from public memory, news of this queer development has arrived yet again, increasing the levels of disquiet circling around the implications it will have directly or indirectly on the people of those districts of Arunachal Pradesh living in the vicinity of the Siang and having strong linkages, economically, culturally or otherwise. Although much had been written and discussed on the issue, little serious in actual containment of the negativities usually brought by the after-effects had been initiated so far. And now that it has revisited, it is time to take adequate measures to shield the people who are going to be affected somehow or the other. This is perhaps more important than searching the causes, whether man-made or natural.
Recapitulating the happenings of the later part of 2017, it must be remembered that apart from the blackish grey colour which was the first shock, news of large scale destruction of fish due to exceptionally high turbidity levels as endorsed by various reports caused deep economic distress. Beyond this, the aquatic life which forms an inseparable part of the greater Siang ecology had to bear the brunt, along with the most likable prospect of aggravated chances of more and prolonged floods due to rising of  river bed after increased silt deposit. Initially, the Chinese angle couldn’t be ruled out, but, the matter has now been buried since satellite image based reports have hinted that the genesis lies, in all probability, in the ‘handiworks’ of nature. Already in the uncomfortable side of the seismic zone, with earthquake-triggered floods and landslides quite common in the state, this is like an extra challenge to face with. But even though there is no such technology as yet to fight the unruly ways of nature, there certainly are notable developments in terms of saving people and minimising the destruction of economic resources, all that have taken the subject of disaster management to reverential levels.
Arc should now be on this aspect, with central government expected  to take the lead role to make sure that there are little chances of repetition of the previous sufferings due to landslides and floods where unpreparedness was an undeniable factor. In that sense, disaster management must also form a prominent part of the Siang agenda.

 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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