Central Water Commission (CWC) is the nodal Organisation entrusted with the task of flood forecasting & early flood warnings in the country. Presently, CWC issues flood forecasts for 330 forecasting stations (198 river level forecast stations & 132 dam/ barrage inflow forecast stations). These stations cover 20 major river basins in 23 States &2 Union Territories. As per the flood forecasting network of CWC, during the last three years, in addition to existing flood-prone states of Assam, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh, extreme floods (water level above previous Highest Flood Level) were witnessed in the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan due to excess rainfall in these states combined with heavy rainfall in short duration. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has prepared flood hazard Atlases for the States of Assam, Bihar, and Odisha. These Atlases provide information on various categories of flood hazard, such as, very high, high, moderate, low, and very low based upon the number of times the area was inundated for the past two decades.

CWC uses all the latest technology including remote-sensing, Geographical Information systems (GIS), Internet, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning in the development/ running/ formulation and calibration of Mathematical models for flood forecasting and for providing Inundation Alerts which are closed at par with international standards. CWC is issuing a 5-day advisory flood forecast at 330 flood and inflow forecasting stations using state-of-the-art rainfall run-off mathematical modeling tools based on forecasted rainfall by IMD and results are displayed at portal https://120.57.99.138. These forecasts help in better management of floods by concerned agencies and departments.

The flood management &anti-erosion schemes are planned, investigated, and implemented by the State Governments with their resources as per priority within the State. The Union Government supplements the efforts of the States by way of technical guidance and promotional financial assistance for flood management in critical areas. The government of India launched the “Flood Management Programme (FMP)” during the XI Plan period. It provides central assistance to the State Governments for taking up works related to river management, flood control, anti-erosion, drainage development, restoration of damaged flood management works and anti-sea erosion works which was continued during XII Plan. A scheme viz. “Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP)” for flood management work in the entire country and River Management activities and works related to Border Areas with an outlay of Rs. 3342 crores were under implementation during 2017-18 to 2019-20 later extended up to March 2021. Central Assistance amounting to Rs.6447.96 crores has been released since XI Plan till March 2021 under the FMP component of this Programme. The State-wise details of losses due to floods are compiled by the Central Water Commission (CWC) based on the data provided by the States.

The government of India is having regular dialogue with the Government of Nepal through existing India-Nepal bilateral mechanisms for the mutual benefit of water resources of the common rivers between the two countries which includes flood control. Specific India-Nepal water management issues are discussed in the India­-Nepal Joint Committee on Kosi and Gandak Project (JCKGP) and Joint Committee on Inundation and Flood Management (JCIFM). JCKGP discusses issues related to Gandak&Kosi Projects like waterlogging, water supplies to canals, maintenance of pond level, etc. whereas, JCIFM discusses issues of river training works to be taken up on rivers in Nepal, flood inundation issues on India Nepal border, etc.

As a non-structural measure of flood management, CWC issues flood forecasts at 40 level forecasting stations (for villages/towns on the bank of the rivers) and 3 inflow forecasting stations (for Dams/ Barrages) in the state of Bihar. During flood season 2020 ending 31st December 2020, a total of 3223 forecasts have been issued for Bihar state out of which 3192 are within the accuracy limit which. works out to 99.04%. Flood forecasts are also issued for rivers common to Nepal and India namely Sharda, Ghaghra, Rapti, Gandak, BurhiGandak, Bagmati, Kamala, Kosi, and Mahananda using meteorological and hydro-meteorological data.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Food Processing Industries by Shri Prahlad Singh Patel in a written reply in the LokSabha today.

Source: Press Release
Release ID: 1742827
Date: August 05, 2021
PIB Delhi
Ministry of Jal Shakti