Located in the delta landscape of three European rivers Rhine, Meuse and Schelde, Netherlands is a tiny low lying country similar to the size of Kerala. With 26% of the country below sea level and 60% of the land prone to floods, they have developed one of the most advanced flood risk and water management system.
In the wake of 2018 deluge, time is right to learn from the Dutch experience and emulate their model. What we can learn from the Dutch authored by Venu Rajamony, tells us the story of the Dutch and how they made the Netherlands. They fought their own battle for and against water, says Rajamoni. They say, “God made the world. The Dutch made the Netherlands because they have defended the land from the sea and rivers by building an elaborate system of dams, canals, drainage systems, and floodgates.”, he adds. It focusses on the management in both the places, causes and after effects of the deluge and the flaws in Kerala’s river basin management.
The book talks on the steps taken by the Dutch to manage waters and a resourceful insight on their water management plans most of which can be adapted to the geography of Kerala. With the photographs of the past century flood disasters and infographics delivers a resourceful insight with a focus on rebuilding Kerala on the lines of flood mitigation.
Rakesh N.M, an architect and urban designer who has co-authored the book, gives a blueprint to rebuild Kerala. The models and the implementations they suggest will act as a guide and reference to sustainably rebuild a state after the most devastating floods Kerala has witnessed in a century.
