Lok Sabha Question No. 4689 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-31
Subject: Development of Flood Plains
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Pradyut Bordoloi

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4689

ANSWERED ON 31.03.2022

## DEVELOPMENT OF FLOOD PLAINS

## 4689.  SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  taking  steps  to  check  unplanned  and  unregulated  development  on floodplains and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to reactivate the model draft Bill for floodplain zoning, circulated by the Union Government in 1975 and if so, the details thereof, including any amendments to the model Bill;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to bring 'Flood Control and Management' including anti-erosion schemes on the Concurrent list, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) the reasons as to why the flood prone States have not enacted floodplain zoning legislation;
- (e) whether the Government is taking any measures to address challenges faced by States in enacting floodplain zoning legislation and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether the Government proposes to provide financial assistance to States to enact floodplain zoning in terms of providing compensation or alternative land to those displaced and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)

(a)  &  (b) Floodplain  zoning  has  been  recognised  as  an  effective  non-structural  measure  for  flood management.  Floodplain 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.

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.  This 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.

(c) The issue of including 'water' in the concurrent list has been discussed at various fora. The proposal to bring 'water' in the Union / Concurrent list was examined by the two Commissions on Centre-State Relations chaired by Justice R.S. Sarkaria and Justice M.M. Punchhi respectively. The proposal did not find favour with either of the two Commissions.

(d)  to  (f) 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.   Government  of  India  has  repeatedly  advised  State/  Union  Territories Governments  the  need  for  enactment  of  an  appropriate  legislation  for  delineation  &  demarcation  of flood  plain  zones  on  the  notified  stretches  of  rivers  of  the  State/UT  and  regulating  the  activities therein.  The National Water Policy has laid emphasis on conservation of rivers, river corridors, water bodies  and  building  infrastructure  in  a  scientifically  planned  manner.  The  policy  promotes  integrated planning  &  management  of  water  resources  considering  challenges  of  possible  climate  changes  and recognises the need of rehabilitation of natural drainage system, ecological requirement of the river etc. Being  a  State  subject,  there  is  no  proposal  under  consideration  of  Union  Government  for  providing financial  assistance  to  States  for  compensating  or  offering  alternative  land  to  those  displaced  due  to enactment of flood plain zoning.

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