In a major decision to prevent the menace of flood in Brahmaputra and Barak River basins, a scheme has been cleared by the Centre. Implementation of the plan will cost the Centre Rs 1,500 crore. Announcing this, Union Minister for Water Resources, Prof Saifuddin Soz said schemes to take up critical flood management works in the Brahmaputra and Barak river basins are in the process of approval.

Besides, the Ministry of Water Resources has proposed to set up a ‘National Flood Management Commission’ to undertake planning and design of flood management works and ensure implementation with technical and financial support.

It is proposed to take up flood management programme at a cost of Rs 8,000 crore in the 11th Plan to assist the States in execution of the flood management works, Prof Soz informed.

The Union Minister for Water Resources was releasing the ‘National Disaster Management Authority Guidelines for Management of Floods’ compiled by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) at a function.

Prof Soz said that for the development of flood-prone areas and up lift of the people, it is necessary that floods are managed effectively. Floods being a State subject, the primary responsibility for their management lie with the States, although the Government has taken a number of steps towards lending a helping hand to them.

The Minister stressed that on the basis of the guidelines, the Ministry of Water Resources would try to develop an effective flood management plans in consultation with all stakeholders. The plans will be forwarded to NDMA through the NEC for submission to the Government and would ultimately help in formulation of a national plan.

Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Gauri Chatterjee said in recent times, floods have occurred in areas which were never perceived to be flood-prone. On an average, about 8 million hectares of land is affected by floods. In monetary terms, the damages have amounted to more than Rs 4,000 crore on an average in the last decade.

The Secretary said that the Ministry is working on flood management in terms of both structural or engineering interventions as well as flood forecasting, which is done by the CWC.

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