Question : FLOOD CONTROL IN STATES



(a) whether devastating floods occur in States due to several rivers originating from Himalayas and flowing through various parts of the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;

(c) whether the Government has formulated any scheme to control floods in these rivers; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and assistance provided by World Bank and other international agencies for the purpose?

Answer given by the minister

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES (SHRI JAI PRAKASH NARAYAN YADAV)

(a) & (b) Yes Sir. Rivers originating in Himalayas namely Ganga and its tributaries mainly cause frequent floods in the States of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh & West Bengal while the Brahmaputra, Barak and their tributaries mainly cause floods in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura.

(c) & (d) Though flood management is a state subject, the Central Government is also providing assistance to the State Governments including financial assistance for taking up critical flood management works.

As regards the projects on the tributaries of river Ganga, which flow to India from Nepal, the Government of India is having regular discussions with Nepal. In this context agreement has been reached with Nepal and a scheme at a cost of Rs. 29.34 crore has been approved to take up field investigations and preparation of Detailed Project Report on Sapta Kosi High Dam Multipurpose Project and Sun Kosi Storage Cum Diversion Scheme which interalia will have substantial flood control benefits for North Bihar. The Joint Project Office and other field offices to take up the above work are being opened in Nepal in August 2004.

Further Kamla & Bagmati Multipurpose Projects on river Kamla & Bagmati are also under discussion with Nepal, though the Nepalese side feels that these projects may not be feasible because of social and environmental implications. This matter was discussed during the 5th meeting of Joint Team of Experts in June 2003 and is being followed up further. Agreement has been reached to take up field investigations and preparation of DPR of 600 MW Burhi Gandaki Hydroelectric Project by an Indian agency on river Burhi Gandak which is a tributary of river Gandak.

An understanding also exists between India and Nepal to extend the existing embankments on Lalbakeya, Bagmati, Kamla & Khando rivers into Nepalese territory upto the non-spilling zone and tie them up with high ground with corresponding strengthening of emabankments on the Indian side.

As regards Brahmaputra, for effective flood control measures and to exploit the large hydroelectric potential, the Siang (Dihang) Dam Project and the Subansiri Dam Project to be taken up in three stages each, have been entrusted to National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC). Action has been initiated for execution of Lower Subansiri project by the NHPC while other projects are under various stages of investigations/approval. Similarly, Tipaimukh Multi purpose Project on Barak has since been entrusted to North Eastern Electric Power Corporation. Pagladiya Dam Project in Assam has been approved by the Government, which is being executed by Brahmaputra Board.

Further, as a part of non-structural measures for flood management, cooperation exists between India and its neighbouring countries Nepal, Bhutan & China under which the hydrological data is received which is utilized in formulating flood forecasts on the Indian side.

As regards assistance provided by World Bank and other International agencies, none of the on going externally aided projects is addressing flood control or having any component related to flood control.