Lok Sabha Question No. 735 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-07
Subject: Study on Recent Floods
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: (ADV.) JOICE GEORGE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 735

## ANSWERED ON 07.0 2.201 9

## STUDY ON RECENT FLOO DS

## 735. ADV. JOICE GEORGE

Will  the  Minister  of  WATER  RESOURCES,  RIVER  DEVELOPMENT  AND  GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Union Government has studied or constituted an expert panel to study th flood induced aquatic changes in the State of Kerala;

(b)if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether  the  Union  Government  has  received  any  requests  in  this  regard  from  the Government and the public;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the Union Government has noted the issue with due importance and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken to improve the situation?

## ANSWER

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

## ( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHW AL )

(a) & (b) After the recent floods of August, 2018, a study on the hydrological processes of flood  has  been  carried  out  by  Central  Water  Commission  (CWC).  As  per  the  study,  Kera experienced an abnormally high rainfall from 1 June, 2018 to 19 August, 2018. As per In ian Meteorological Department (IMD) data, Kerala received 2346.6 mm of rainfall from 1 Jun 2018 to 19 August, 2018 in contrast to an expected 1649.5 mm of rainfall. This rainfa about 42% above the normal. Further, the rainfall over Kerala during 1s t to 19 th of August was 164% above normal. Due to heavy rainfall, the first onset of flooding occurred towards t of July. A severe spell of rainfall was experienced at several places on the 8 th and 9 th of August, 2018. Another severe spell of rainfal l started from the 14 th of August and continued till the 19 th of August, resulting in disastrous flooding in 13 out of 14 districts.

As informed by State Government of Kerala, the preliminary observation after the he floods is that the water level in some rivers have receded drastically, and sediments/ sands were deposited in the river itself and caused hindrance to the smooth flow in the river.

The  preliminary  assessment  conducted  by  the  Irrigation  Department,  Government  of Kerala reveals that the topography of the land adjacent to rivers which were overflowing flood lost its topsoil and in some areas, the adjacent lands were totally washe d away nd river itself took a new course. As informed by State Government of Kerala, Haritha Keralam Miss in  association  with  Kerala  State  Remote  Sensing  Agency  has  initiated  a  study  on morphological changes of the river bed.

(c) to (e) In order t o explore the feasibility of development of flood forecasting/ early war system  and  operation  rules  for  reservoir  operation, Ministry  of  Water  Resources,  River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation in August, 2018, constituted a Joint Team comprising o off icials of Central Water Commission (CWC) and National Project Monitoring Unit (NPMU) of  National  Hydrology  Project  (NHP)  with  Chief  Engineer,  Cauvery  and  Southern  Rivers Organisation, CWC, Coimbatore as Team Leader. The Joint Team visited Kerala during 24 t h to 27 th September, 2018, had discussions with Kerala Government authorities and assessed t situation. After field visit and discussion, the relevant issues identified were studi and the final report of the Committee was submitted to Governm ent of Kerala in December, 2018 along with recommendations. During the interaction of the Joint Team and field vis Kerala,  Government  of  Kerala  requested  to  explore  the  possibility  of  establishing forecasting  stations  in  Kerala  after  the  study. Accordingly,  the  team  decided  to  study implementing of flood forecasting stations, initially in the three basins of Kerala i.e. (ii) Periyar and (iii) Bharathapuzha.

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