(a) whether the flood in Brahmaputra river plays havoc with the Brahmaputra basin States including North-Eastern States;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the effective measures taken by the Government in consultation with the affected States to control the flood from river Brahmaputra;
(d) whether the Government plans to consider the multi-purpose use of water resource in North Eastern Region; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and the action taken in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES (SHRI VINCENT H. PALA)
(a) & (b): The floods in Brahmaputra River play havoc with the Brahmaputra Basin states
including North Eastern states particularly the Assam. The Government of Assam has informed
that every year due to three to four successive waves of floods from May to October most of the
areas in Assam remain submerged under floods causing widespread damages to the crops, important
public properties and institutions, roads, railways and bridges snapping the surface communications.
Domestic cattles, livestocks and valuable human lives are also lost due to floods.
(c): The Brahmaputra Board, an autonomous statutory Body under Government of India has
prepared 44 numbers Master Plans for Brahmaputra & Barak rivers and their tributaries which
give due considerations to the flood control, river training, watershed management, erosion
control etc. (structural measures) and flood forecasting and warning (non-structural measures)
to mitigate flood/ flood drainage in Brahmaputra & Barak Valley. These Master Plans were sent
to State Governments after approval of Government of India for their implementation. Water
being a state subject, most of actions are required to be undertaken by concerned State
Governments for flood controls and anti-erosion measures. These flood management works are
being planned implemented and funded by the states as per their own priorities.
In order to provide assistance to the State Governments, a plan scheme, namely, “Flood
Management Programme (FMP)†under State Sector has been approved, in principle, by the Government
of India at a total cost of Rs.8000 crores during XI plan to provide central assistance to the
State Governments to undertake the flood management and anti erosion works including anti-sea
erosion, drainage development, flood proofing works, etc. in the critical reaches. During XI Plan,
a total of 166 flood management and anti erosion schemes of North Eastern States including Sikkim
and West Bengal (North Bengal) amounting to Rs.1153.07 crore with central assistance component of
Rs.1034.43 crore have been included under FMP and central assistance amounting to Rs.449.79 crore
towards 151 schemes has been released upto 31.07.2010. In addition to this Brahmaputra Board is
also executing some of floods and anti-erosion schemes in critical reaches of Brahmaputra.
(d) & (e): The National Water Resource Council adopted the National Water Policy (NWP) in April,
2002 which also addresses various issues related to planning of Water Resources Project. NWP lay
stress that Water Resources development projects should as far as possible be planned and developed
as multi-purpose project and provision for drinking water should be a primary consideration. Further,
the study of the likely impact of the project during construction and later on the human life,
settlements, occupations, socio-economic, environment and other aspects shall be formed as essential
component of the project planning. Various schemes and programmes related to Water Resource
development and management are planned and implemented by the respective State Governments as
per their own priorities. Government of India provides technical and financial assistance to
the states with a view to encourage them and supplement their efforts in achieving the objectives
of NWP.