Understanding and Assessing Flood Risk Management in Balochestan Iran: With Integrated River Basin Approach, Future Direction

Abstract

A holistic perspective on changing rainfall-driven flood risk is provided for the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Balochistan is exposed to different types of floods that cause severe economic losses, damage to infrastructures, and loss of lives. Reliable information on the drivers, patterns and dynamics of flood risk is crucial for the identification, prioritization and planning of risk reduction and adaptation measures. Here, we present a systematic review of existing flood risk assessments in Balochistan. We evaluate the current status, persisting gaps, and challenges regarding the understanding and assessment of flood risk in this large province. A society well-aware of risks must not only give attention to the prevention of flood risks but must also consider disaster management, i.e. minimizing casualties and flood damages, and enhancing recovery. Balochistan has No solid network of levees along any of the rivers that protect the many low-lying polders from flooding, however the government trying to build few in Sarbaz river from Shirgwaz to Kolani and in Kajo river from Kalat to Dalgan. Well, nature is unpredictable, extreme events may happen, and absolute protection against flooding cannot be offered. It is common practice to perform technical and economic analyses to determine the feasibility of flood protection plans and also institutional and administrative aspects are addressed. But how the people that live in the polders feel about the flood risk and protection plans seldom gets attention.