Union minister of State for Jal Shakti announced on flood control and management

New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Raj Bhushan Choudhary, addressed the Lok Sabha on the current state of flood control and management in India. He highlighted that while data on districts affected by recent floods is not centrally maintained, flood management schemes are primarily formulated and implemented by State Governments using their own funds. The Union Government supports these efforts with technical guidance and financial assistance for managing floods in critical areas.

To enhance flood management, the Union Government has implemented the Flood Management Programme (FMP) during the XI and XII Plans, providing central assistance to States for flood control, anti-erosion, drainage development, and anti-sea erosion works. This initiative was incorporated into the "Flood Management and Border Areas Programme" (FMBAP) from 2017-18 to 2020-21 and extended up to 2026 with a limited budget.

Under these programs, up to March 2024, the government has released Rs. 7106.47 crore under FMP and Rs. 1258.73 crore under River Management Activities and Works in Border Areas (RMBA) to various States. A total of 427 projects have been completed under FMBAP, protecting approximately 5.04 million hectares of land and benefiting about 53.69 million people. Currently, 35 projects under the FMP component of FMBAP are ongoing in various States, as detailed below:

As part of non-structural measures, the Central Water Commission (CWC) has established a flood forecasting network across the country, issuing forecasts at 340 stations. These forecasts assist agencies in implementing mitigation measures such as evacuations and the safe relocation of people and property. Inflow forecasting also helps dam authorities optimize reservoir operations, ensuring the safe passage of floodwaters and maintaining adequate storage for non-monsoon periods.

According to a CWC report using satellite imagery data from 1986 to 2022, the total flood-affected area in India is assessed at 21.213 million hectares, with 20.538 million hectares protected through various flood management measures by the Central and State Governments. A 1980 report by the Rastriya Badh Aayog (RBA) indicated that 33.516 million hectares were flood-affected, with 9.77 million hectares protected from floods.

Minister Choudhary provided this information in written replies to questions in the Lok Sabha, emphasizing the importance of continuous efforts to manage and mitigate flood risks across the country.