Ministry of Jal Shakti
Laws for Flood Management
Posted On: 15 DEC 2022 6:08PM by PIB Delhi
Flood management including erosion control falls within the purview of the States and accordingly, flood management and anti-erosion schemes are formulated and implemented by concerned State Governments as per their priority. The Union Government supplements the efforts of the States by providing technical guidance and also promotional financial assistance for management of floods in critical areas. Flood plain zoning has been recognised as an effective non-structural measure for flood management. Flood plain zoning measures aim at demarcating zones or areas likely to be affected by floods of different magnitude or frequencies and probability levels, and specify the types of permissible developments in these zones, so that whenever flood occur, the damage can be minimized. Being a state subject, the action for demarcation of flood plain areas and regulating the activities therein, is to be undertaken by respective State Governments. Government of India has continuously impressed upon the States the need to adopt flood plain zoning approach. A model draft bill for flood plain zoning legislation was also circulated by the Union Government to all the States in the year 1975 for their consideration and enactment of suitable legislation. This model bill envisages zoning of flood plain of a river according to flood frequencies and defines the type of use of flood plain. The States of Manipur, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir have enacted the legislation. National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has also time to time advised all Sates in Ganga basin for demarcation, delineation and notification of river flood plains and removal of encroachment from river bed/floodplain of the river Ganga and its tributaries in adherence to the River Ganga [Rejuvenation, Protection and Management] Authorities Order, 2016. Many States have expressed their reservations on implementing floodplain zoning due to reasons like high population density, non availability of sufficient land for relocating the people occupying flood plains, etc.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Bishweswar Tudu in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
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