Lok Sabha Question No. 591 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-13
Subject: Protection of Rivers Affected by Floods
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: N.K. PREMACHANDRAN

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

## LOK SABHA

## UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 591 ANSWERED ON 13.12 .201 8

## PROTECTION OF RIVERS AFFECTED BY FLOODS

## 591. SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN

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

(a) whether the Government is aware that the river banks and surrounding areas along the 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 the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government has noticed that the damage cause d 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 river and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## ( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHW AL )

(a) & (b) Yes, the river banks and surrounding areas along the rivers of Kerala were damag to recent floods wherein 13 out of 14 districts were badly affected.  Some of the wor areas in Kerala during the recent floods were Wayanad (Kabini sub - basin),  I dukki (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 Government under the existing budget provisions. In resp onse 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. Centr Commission has carried out a study on floods for understanding the hydrological process and come out with the underlining causes.

(c) The  river  protection  works  are  planned,  investigated  and  implemented  by  the Governments with theirown resources as per priority within the State. The Union Government

supplements  the  efforts  of  the  States  by  way  of  technical  guidance  and  promotional assistance  to  the  States  in  critical  areas.  Government  of  India  launched  a  Flood  Ma Programme (FMP) during XI Plan for providing central assistance to the State Governmen 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 Ganga  Rejuvenation,  Central  Assistance  is  being  provided  to  State  Government  of  Kera 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 the affected people of the State Government of Kerala, the Government of India has relea the instalments of CentralShare 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  wa temporarily  inaccessible  to  pilgrims  following  the  flooding  of  the  Pampa  Triveni  Bri Pampa  river  at  Pampa  Triveni  changed  its  course  through  the  Pampa  Manappuram  damagin 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 o damages were done by various departments like Irrigation Department, Kerala Water Authori agencies like Tata Projects Ltd. (TPL). TPL has been assigned the task of removing silt and slur which has accumulated along the river during the flood by the Government of Kerala.

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