India Partners and Engineering Ministries International Develop a Flood Mitigation System To Preserve a Community in Southern India

EUGENE, Ore., Dec. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- India Partners and Engineering Ministries International (eMi) will send a joint team to Andhra Pradesh, India in February 2012 to resume development of a flood mitigation system for a river island suffering from severe land erosion. The island is home to nearly 300 families whose lives are continually threatened by the constant flooding.

India Partners has been serving the island and its residents for the last 12 years by providing livestock for food and income generation, a community center complete with a primary school and job training facility, as well as microloans for soil restoration, fishing boats and nets. However, cyclones, monsoons and massive floods are destroying the island's livestock, homes, fishing boats and crops. Lives have been lost and the island is rapidly eroding away. 

"The islanders are cut off from others, the poorest of the poor and have no other place to go," said Brent Hample, President of India Partners. "This flood mitigation system is not only crucial to sustain their community's existence, but also to prevent deaths and raise their quality of life."

Through its partnership with eMi, India Partners intends to provide future solutions for flooding and erosion that plague the island. The two organizations sent a joint team to the project site in June 2011 to survey the land and develop initial anti-erosion plans.

India Partners has set the following priorities for future development of the island:

1. A civil engineering concept design for a flood mitigation system that would prevent regular floods and protect the island against further erosion.
2. A community-based adaptation plan that would help the residents of the island to survive future floods.

Watch this video report from the June 2011 team.

Learn more about India Partners at www.IndiaPartners.org, or call toll-free 1-877-874-6342. Learn more about volunteer opportunities with Engineering Ministries International at www.emiworld.org.

About India Partners:
India Partners works alongside a broad group of indigenous, faith-based grassroots agencies in India focused on alleviating poverty and injustice. India Partners believes in helping the people of India help themselves, regardless of caste, religion, gender or creed. We seek support from others who share our passion to empower change.

About Engineering Ministries International:
Engineering Ministries International (eMi) is a non-profit Christian development organization made up of architects, engineers and design professionals who donate their skills to help children and families around the world step out of poverty and into a world of hope.

SOURCE India Partners