Hi Chandana,

It is indeed a big disaster. It is the responsibility of planning authorities, local and national governments, infrastructure developers and, of course, the scientific community.

Typically, planning for infrastructure development has to be done 10, 20 or 30 years ahead. This planning has to be done using the best available scientific evidence. Did the scientific community conduct studies of the impact of climate change on climatic variables like rain in the region? Were these studies presented to the authorities and the public in general?

Sudies conducted in other parts of the world show that it is much cheaper to spend money planning for disaster mitigation than to wait till the disaster occurs and then try to mitigate it!

A good example of studies of climatic extremes, including possible impact of climate change, is provided in this report:

Technical Report Climate Futures for Tasmania: Extreme Events Technical Report

Hope it helps,

Augusto

Droughts typically have complex causation and nature is not necessarily the fundamental or main reason for it happening https://mahb.stanford.edu/blog/when-is-drought-drought

Dear Chandana Watagodakumbura

It is indeed a big disaster an alarming call for all of us. It require a holistic approach and I agree with author contributors that is the responsibility of planning authorities, local and national governments, infrastructure developers and, of course, the scientific community. In my opinion in every planning we need to think Ecosystem management, which not only offers an opportunity to strengthen natural infrastructure and human resilience against hazard impacts, but also generates a range of other social, economic and environmental benefits for multiple stakeholders. Drought although so called cause by Al nino but it is not first time. Remember the physical risk reduction capacity of ecosystems depends on their health and structure, and the intensity of the hazard event. Healthy ecosystems reduce social-economic vulnerability by sustaining human livelihoods and providing essential goods such as food, water. Such planning will lead to Sustainable water management, where river basins, aquifers, fl ood plains, and their associated vegetation are managed to provide water storage and flood regulation services

Thanks Augusto, Kundan and all.