Flood Management in India

Flood Management in India:-

Floods have been a recurrent phenomenon in India and cause huge losses to lives, properties, livelihood systems, infrastructure and public utilities. India’s high risk and vulnerability is highlighted by the fact that 40 million hectares out of a geographical area of 329 million hectares is prone to floods.

As per the constitutional provisions, “Flood Management is a state subject” and as such the primary responsibility for flood management lies with the states.

Institutional Structure:-

• •        NDMA, which has been assigned to deal with all types of disasters including the floods. The National Executive Committee (NEC) with the Secretary of GOI of the ministry or department having administrative control of the subject of the DM as the Chairman and other members.
• •        State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) and State Executive Committees (SECs) to perform similar functions at the state level.

Identification and marking of flood prone areas on maps,

•        Preparation of close contour and flood vulnerability maps,

Formulating plans for expansion and modernization of flood forecasting and warning systems,

Identification of priority flood protection and drainage improvement works, identification of reservoirs for review and

•       Modification of operation manuals and rule curves and undertaking special studies on problems of river erosion.

Continuous modernization of flood forecasting, early warning and decision support systems

Ensuring the incorporation of flood resistant features in the design and construction of new structures in the flood prone areas

Drawing up time-bound plans for the flood proofing of strategic and public utility structures in flood prone areas

Introducing appropriate capacity development interventions for effective Flood Management (including education, training, capacity building, research and development, and documentation)

Ensuring regular monitoring of the effectiveness and sustainability of various structures and taking appropriate measures for their restoration and strengthening

•        These activities which include inspection of dams, embankments and other structural measures, execution of restoration and strengthening works and expansion

Improving the compliance regime through appropriate mechanisms

Strengthening the emergency response capabilities

The role of communities and NGOs is vital in search, rescue and relief operations.

Immediate medical assistance to the affected people and steps for prevention of outbreak of epidemics after the floods are essential components of flood response.

Things to be done:-

Flood forecasting and warning and Decision Support System (DSS) to be established on a scientific basis taking into account the latest technological developments in the world

To set up a National Flood Management Institute (NFMI) at an appropriate location in one of the flood prone states

There is a need to set up a central organisation to lay down policy and implement Flood Management measures in consultation with the states and other stakeholders as floods are not confined to one state and flooding in one state leads to flooding in adjoining states

The Ministry of Water Resources (MOWR) and the state governments/SDMAs/DDMAs concerned will urgently undertake identification of areas prone to floods along with names of villages/talukas or tehsils/districts in a scientific manner in collaboration with the NRSA and Survey of India( SOI)

• •      Flash floods forecasting and warning systems using Doppler radars will be installed by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) by September 2009

As a preventive measure, the inhabitation of low-lying areas along the rivers, nallas and drains will be regulated by the state governments/State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs)/District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs)

Landslides and blockages in rivers will be monitored by the Central Water Commission (CWC)/National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA)/state governments/SDMAs with the help of satellite imageries and in case of their occurrence, warning systems will be set up to reduce losses

•        There is lack of documentation on floods and flood damage.

• •        The state governments will ensure that each and every flood event is properly documented and flood damage assessment is made on a scientific basis with the help of latest technological advancements in the field of remote sensing through satellites etc.