THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government has decided to take the assistance of Dutch government, which is considered to be the world leaders in flood management, in putting up an effective flood management system in the future.After completing the basic discussions with the Dutch government, the state government is now expecting the final dates for the Dutch team to visit the state to examine the ground-level situation and geographical conditions of the state.According to sources in the government, additional chief secretary Vishwas Mehta is coordinating the Dutch cooperation with the state government through secretary (West) at the ministry of external affairs Ruchi Ghanashyam.The Centre is also learnt to have given in-principle nod for the project.“The preliminary discussions with the Dutch government has been completed and the experts have agreed to visit the state for examining the situation so that they can formulate the best suitable system for the state. The state is expecting the schedule from Dutch government regarding the visit,” top sources said. According to sources, the Dutch government has volunteered to bear their travel expenses, and the state government would host them once they are in the state along with providing them with field assistance.The Netherlands, which is a low-lying country, where one third of its area is lying below the sea level, is highly prone to floods and the country has over a period developed an innovative and sophisticated system to control rising sea levels and also floods. Several countries across the world, including the US, have taken assistance from the Netherlands in fighting flood. In addition to the Dutch expertise, the government is also holding discussions with Australia government-owned Entura, a leading firm with expertise in dam management, to formulate a dam management plan and emergency operation plan for the dams in the state. “The discussions with the firm are on but it is yet to be finalized,” sources said.Interestingly, the experts from Entura were participants of the two-day international dam safety conference that was held in the state capital last January. The Centre and the state have jointly initiated a flood mapping initiative for different types of floods, including once in 30, 50 and 100 years and also a landslide mapping programme.The international assistance along with the indigenous mapping initiative is expected to give a solid flood management and dam management plans for the state, sources added.

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