Question : Protection of Rivers Affected by Floods

(a) whether the Government is aware that the river banks and surrounding areas along the rivers of Kerala were damaged due to recent floods;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon;
(c) whether the Government proposes to give a package to Kerala for protection of rivers and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has noticed that the damage caused to the Pampa river during floods is resulting in difficulties to the Sabarimala pilgrims; and
(e) if so, whether the Government proposes to give financial assistance for rejuvenation of the said river and if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION & PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

(SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

(a) & (b) Yes, the river banks and surrounding areas along the rivers of Kerala were damaged due to recent floods wherein 13 out of 14 districts were badly affected. Some of the worst affected areas in Kerala during the recent floods were Wayanad (Kabini sub-basin), Idukki (Periyar sub-basin), Ernakulam (Periyar and Chalakudi) sub-basins, Alleppey and Pathanamthitta (both in Pamba sub-basin). Urgent rectification of flood damages have been undertaken by the State Government under the existing budget provisions. In response to memorandum submitted by State Government, an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) was deputed by Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India to Kerala to assess the extent of damages caused due to floods. Central Water Commission has carried out a study on floods for understanding the hydrological process and has come out with the underlining causes.
(c) The river protection works are planned, investigated and implemented by the State Governments with their own resources as per priority within the State. The Union Government

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supplements the efforts of the States by way of technical guidance and promotional financial assistance to the States in critical areas. Government of India launched a Flood Management Programme (FMP) during XI Plan for providing central assistance to the State Governments for taking up works related to river management, flood control, anti-erosion, drainage development, flood proofing works, restoration of damaged flood management works and anti-sea erosion works which has been continued. Under the FMP of Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Central Assistance is being provided to State Government of Kerala in Kuttanad region. A Central Assistance amounting to Rs.137.9474 Cr. has been released to four projects in Kuttanad region till date. As informed by Ministry of Home Affairs, in order to support the affected people of the State Government of Kerala, the Government of India has released both the instalments of Central Share of SDRF amounting to Rs.192.60 crore and Rs.600.00 crore, released “on account”, basis from NDRF to Government of Kerala for immediate relief measures.

(d) & (e) The State Government has informed that the Ayyappa Temple at Sabrimala was temporarily inaccessible to pilgrims following the flooding of the Pampa Triveni Bridge. The Pampa river at Pampa Triveni changed its course through the Pampa Manappuram damaging existing infrastructure in Manappuram area. Moreover, huge quantity of silt, sand and pebbles were deposited in the Pampa Triveni and Manappuram area. Preliminary urgent rectification of flood damages were done by various departments like Irrigation Department, Kerala Water Authority and agencies like Tata Projects Ltd. (TPL). TPL has been assigned the task of removing silt and slurry which has accumulated along the river during the flood by the Government of Kerala.



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