(a) whether the Government is aware that huge loss of life and
property is caused in various districts of Uttar Pradesh owing to
floods in the Ghaghra river and its tributaries;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to ensure security of
life and property?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES &
MINORITY AFFAIRS ( SHRI VINCENT H. PALA)
(a) Yes Sir.
(b) Government of India, Ministry of Water Resources does not maintain
data on loss of life and property due to floods.
(c) Water being a state subject, the flood management schemes are planned,
funded and executed by the State Governments, as per their own priorities, out
of their State plan funds. In order to provide financial support to the State
Governments, the Government of India also assists the flood prone States in
flood management works for critical reaches. During XI Plan period, central
assistance is being provided to all the flood affected states for flood control
and river management works under a state sector scheme, namely, “Flood Management
Programme (FMP)â€. Under the programme, several flood control works on rivers
Ghaghra and its tributaries, namely Sarda and Rapti have been taken up during
XI Plan by the State Government of Uttar Pradesh with central assistance.
In addition, the Government of India set up Ganga Flood Control Commission (GFCC)
in 1972 for preparation of comprehensive master plans for flood control measures
in the Ganga basin states. Detailed Comprehensive Master Plans for all the 23 river
systems including the river Ghaghra constituting the Ganga basin had been prepared
by GFCC and circulated to the concerned State Governments for implementation.
The Government of India is also having continued dialogue with Nepal on matters
related to flood forecasting and construction of storage dams to check floods in
Indian territory due to rivers flowing from Nepal.