(a) whether the Government has taken any concrete steps to control floods in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the funds allocated by the Union Government to States to implement flood related schemes, State-wise; and
(d) the progress made in this regard alongwith the details of utilisation of funds so far?
THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES (PROF. SAIF-UD-DIN SOZ)
(a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the
House.
STATEMENT REFFERED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (d) OF
STARRED QUESTION NO. 139 TO BE ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON
27.02.2006 REGARDING FUNDS TO STATES FOR FLOOD CONTROL
(a)&(b) Flood throughout the world cannot be fully
controlled. It is to be managed to best of ability on
technical merit of the problem from place to place.
However, flood Management being within the purview of
States, the schemes for flood control are planned, funded
and executed by the State Governments. The role of Central
Government is technical, catalytical and promotional in
nature. UPA Government gave special emphasis on this issue
in the National Common Minimum Programme.
Central Government has also been initiating various
measures for assisting the States in the management of
floods. Ganga Flood Control Commission for Ganga Basin
States constituted in 1972 prepared Comprehensive Plans for
Flood Management for all the 23 river systems of Ganga.
Likewise, Brahmaputra Board which started functioning at
Guwahati in 1982 prepared Master Plans for Flood Management
for Brahmaputra, Barak and its major tributaries. These
plans have been forwarded to concerned State Governments
for implementation.
The National Water Policy 2002 has recommended for
preparation of basin wise Master Plan for flood control and
management providing therein adequate flood cushion in
reservoir projects having overriding consideration of flood
control in reservoir regulation policy. It has further
emphasised on non-structural measures like regulation of
settlements and economic activities in flood plains as well
as modernization and expansion of flood forecasting
activities.
In order to mitigate the damages from floods, a
nationwide flood forecasting and warning system, as a non —
structural measure, has been established by the Central
Water Commission which issues flood forecasts at 173
stations in the country of which 145 stations are for river
stage forecast and 28 for inflow forecast. For upgradation
of the Flood Forecasting Network, a scheme at estimated cost
of Rs.51 crore has been approved by the Government of India.
For long term management of floods also the Government of
India have been taking effective steps. In this regard
agreement has been reached with Nepal for survey,
investigation and preparation of Detailed Project Report
for Sapta Kosi High Dam Multipurpose Project and Sun Kosi
Storage Cum Diversion Scheme for which a Joint Project
Office was opened in Nepal in August 2004. The Government
of India had also approved implementation of Pagladiya
Multipurpose Project in Assam in 2001 at a cost of Rs.
542.90 crore (Revised tentative cost Rs. 1069.40 crore)
which has flood control as a major benefit.
Government of India has also been providing Central
assistance to the State Governments to take up critical
anti erosion / flood management works. A scheme amounting
to Rs. 195.63 crore (central share) was approved during the
10th Plan (2004-07) for Ganga Basin States including the
works to be executed by Farakka Barrage Project Authority
in its extended jurisdiction. Similarly a scheme of Rs.
150 crore has been approved for North Eastern Region
including Sikkim, North Bengal. Brahmaputra Board has also
executed anti erosion works worth Rs. 21.91 crore. Another
scheme amounting to Rs. 41.28 crore has been approved to be
fully funded by the Government of India for the protection
of Majuli Island. Governments of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
are being provided financial assistance for maintenance of
Gandak and Kosi embankments (Nepal portion), which they
execute after every flood season. Assistance is also being
rendered to Bihar for the scheme namely, “Extension,
raising and strengthening of embankments for rivers
Lalbakeya, Kamla, Bagmati and Khandoâ€.
(c)&(d) The details of funds allocated by the Ministry to
the States during 10th Plan to implement flood related
schemes and the progress made in this regard along with the
details of utilization of funds are given in Annex.I
Annex.I
Details of funds allocated by the Ministry to the States
during Xth Plan to implement flood related schemes and the
progress made in this regard along with the details of
utilization of funds
(Rs. in crore)# Including state share of Centrally Sponsored Scheme of `Critical anti erosion works in Ganga Basin States†.
Sl Name of State Funds Funds Funds . allocated released utilized No
1. Assam 81.00 20.568 6.37 2. Andhra Pradesh 5.45 4.50 1.50 3. Arunachal 15.03 Nil Nil Pradesh 4. Bihar 177.36 76.21 61.97# 5. Himachal Pradesh 2.32 1.00 Nil 6. Jharkhand 2.30 Nil Nil 7 Manipur 7.60 2.12 Nil 8. Meghalaya 4.50 Nil Nil 9. Mizoram 4.50 0.60 0.60 10 Nagaland 4.33 1.2015 NA 11 Orissa 13.13 4.75 1.50 12 Sikkim 9.00 2.16 NA 13 Tripura 15.04 1.50 1.302 14 Uttaranchal 4.00 2.95 1.00 15 Uttar Pradesh 51.21 29.66 23.02 16 West Bengal 72.12 25.78 20.52#