CAUSES AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF FLOOD HAZARD: A CASE STUDY OF SAMPLE VILLAGES, SWAT VALLEY, PAKISTAN

This paper attempts to find out the causes and prevailing environmental impacts of flood hazard in Swat valley, Pakistan. In this paper an effort has been made to discuss causes of flood hazard and its physical and social consequences. To achieve the objectives of the study, three sample villages namely, Ningolai, Delay and Ghureijo were randomly selected for detailed and intensive study. Here, flood occurs during summer season, which is mainly caused by torrential rainfall and melting of snow and ice, with deforestation and overgrazing as flood intensifying factors. During flood season, water overflows the natural levees and cause tremendous damage to housing, agricultural land, standing crops and other properties. Based on the finding of the study, it is recommended that flood relief channel and embankment be improved and the active flood plain must be completely banned for residential purpose. This paper is divided into four sections. Section one deals with the detailed introduction of the study. Section two gives research methodology adopted for this study. Section three describes the analysis, results and discussion, whereas summary, findings and policy recommendations are given in the final section.

کلیدواژه ها:

Flood ، Causes ، Impact ، mitigation