Netherlands spends €2.3 billion on flood fix, cutting evacuations by giving rivers more space
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Policies of other countries affecting India· Prelims·
Why in news
The Netherlands' 'Room for the River' programme is being highlighted as a global model for climate adaptation and flood management.
Background
The Netherlands invested €2.3 billion in the 'Room for the River' programme launched in 2006. The strategy shifted from building higher dikes to creating space for rivers by moving dikes, lowering floodplains, and converting farmland into temporary storage.
Facts for Prelims
- PlaceWaal River: A major river in the Netherlands where the Nijmegen island project was implemented.
- FactThe Room for the River programme was launched in 2006 with a budget of €2.3 billion.
- S&TNature-based solutions: Using floodplains and temporary storage areas to manage high river discharge.
For Mains
Q. Discuss how nature-based solutions like the 'Room for the River' programme can be adapted to manage increasing flood risks in the Indian subcontinent.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Ecological restoration: Balancing flood risk mitigation with the preservation of biodiversity and riverine ecosystems.
- Land-use conflict: Trade-offs between converting agricultural land into flood storage and ensuring food security.
- Cost-benefit analysis: Comparing long-term maintenance of nature-based solutions versus traditional hard engineering structures.
Keywords: Climate adaptation · Nature-based solutions · Floodplain management · Resilient infrastructure · Ecological restoration
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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.