Lok Sabha Question No. 517 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-22
Subject: Floods in Bihar
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Alok Kumar Suman

## 517. DR. ALOK KUMAR SUMAN

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that the floods are natural calamity which can not be controlled p technological advancement;

(b) if so, the details thereof, especially in Bihar including G opalganj district;

(c) whether it is fact that the main reason for floods in the State of Bihar is increased d North Bihar like Gandak, Burhi Gandak, Bagmati, Kamla, Kosi and Mahananda due to heavy rainf upper catchment area s mainly lying in Nepal;

(d) if so, the steps taken to control floods in North Bihar including Gopalganj district; and

(e) the details of total number of representations received and the action taken for floo including district Gopalganj ?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI

## (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a)  &  (b)  Floods  are  natural  calamity  that  the  country  faces  almost  every  year,  in  var magnitude.  The  occurrence of floods  can  be  attributed  to  various  factors,  including  wide  var rainfall  both  in  time  and  space  with  frequent  departures  from  the  normal  pattern,  inade capacities of rivers, river bank erosion and silting of river beds, landslides, poor natural drainage in floo prone areas, snowmelt and glacial lake out - bursts. Water Resource Department, Government of Bihar has reported severe erosion on the embankments of River Gandak in Gopalganj District of Bihar due rainfall in catchme nt area of River Gandak in Nepal during monsoon year of 2020. Several bre embankment  along  River  Gandak  occurred  in  Gopalganj  District  of  Bihar  at  Bhaisahi  Purren Saramn, Bandhauli Shitalpur Faizullahpur Jamindari Bundh, and Baikunthpur Re tired Line.

(c ) Main reason for floods in the State of Bihar is on account of increased discharge in riv like Gandak, Burhi Gandak and Bagmati, Kamla, Kosi and Mahananda due to heavy rainfall in catchmentareas  which  mainly  li e  in  Nepal.  The  management  of  floods  due  to  these  rivers  has concern. The related issues are discussed in the existing Indo - Nepal bilateral mechanisms comprising of ( JointMinisterial Level Commission on Water Resources(JMCWR) (ii) JointCommittee on Water

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI, DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 517

ANSWERED ON 22.07 .2021

## FLOODS IN BIHAR

Resources (JCWR) (iii) Joint Standing Technical Committee (JSTC), (iv) Joint Committee on Kosi  Projects  (JCKGP)  and    (v)  Joint  Committee  on  Inundation  and  Flood  management  (J Government of India i s having regular dialogue with the Government of Nepal for construction of these rivers for mutual benefit of the two countries which includes flood control.

(d) & (e) Flood management schemes are formulated and implemented by concerned State Gov ernments as per  their  priority. The  Union  Government  supplements  the  efforts  of  the  States  by  providing  t guidance and also promotional financial assistance for management of floods in critical areas However, as a non- structural measure of flood ma nagement, Central Water Commission (CWC) issues flood forecasts for rivers common to Nepal and India  namely  Sharda,  Ghaghra, Rapti, Gandak, Burhi Gandak, Kamala, Kosi and Mahananda using meteorological and hydro - meteorological data available in the website of  Department of  Hydrology  &  Meteorology,  Government  of  Nepal.    At  present,  CWC  has  40 forecasting stations (for villages/towns on the bank of the  rivers) and 3 in flow  forecasting  stations  (for Dams/ Barrages) in the State of Bihar. Durin g monsoon season of year 2020 ending 31 st December  2020, a total of 3223 forecasts have been issued for  Bihar State out of  which 3192 have been found accuracy limit which works out to 99.04%.

CWC is maintaining a level forecasting station at Dumariaghat on Gandak River in Gopalga District of Bihar. This station flowed in Extreme Flood Situation during 2020 when the River flowed above Highest Flood Level and Severe Flood Situations were witnessed during the last 5 years inclu s year when the River flowed above Danger Level. CWC is formulating 5 day advisories for flood using real time rainfall estimates and 5 day rainfall forecast through Numerical Weather Prediction models b IMD on a seamless fashion. Mathematical model has been used for formulation of advisories and advisories are shared with stake holders using dedicated website.

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