Lok Sabha Question No. 455 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-03
Subject: Challenges of Flood Forecasting
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Adala Prabhakara Reddy, Talari Rangaiah, Midhun Reddy, Chinta Anuradha, Reddeppa Nallakonda Gari, Geetha Viswanath Vanga, Kuruva Gorantla Madhav, Beesetti  Venkata Satyavathi, Pocha Brahmananda Reddy

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 455

ANSWERED ON 03.02.2022

## CHALLENGES OF FLOOD FORECASTING

455. SHRI ADALA PRABHAKARA REDDY:

SHRI TALARI RANGAIAH

SHRI P.V. MIDHUN REDDY

SHRIMATI CHINTA ANURADHA

SHRI N. REDDEPPA

SHRIMATI VANGA GEETHA VISWANATH

SHRI KURUVA GORANTLA MADHAV

DR. BEESETTI VENKATA SATYAVATHI

SHRI POCHA BRAHMANANDA REDDY

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of challenges that are being faced in flood forecasting in the country with regard to rivers ; and
- (b) the steps being taken to improve the flood forecasting system in view of increased instances of floods in the country including Andhra Pradesh?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Flood  Forecasting  on  International  &  Inter-state  Rivers  is  formulated  and  issued  by  Central  Water Commission  (CWC)  using  statistical  methods  for  short  range  forecasting  and  mathematical  modelling  for fiveday's advance flood advisory. The main challenge being faced in flood forecasting is to accurately forecast the impending flood sufficiently in advance with high level of accuracy. Mathematical modelling based flood advisory  although  provide  sufficient  lead  time,  its  accuracy  is  dependent  on  accuracy  of  weather(rainfall) forecasts. The growing incidents of high intensity rainfall in shorter duration due to likely impact of climate change poses another challenge for flood forecasting.
- (b) There is a continuous effort for improvement of Flood Forecasting using all the latest technology including space technology tools, Geographical Information System (GIS), web based applications, etc. Following steps have been taken to improve the Flood forecasting system in the country.
-  Expansion of Flood Forecasting Network: CWC flood forecasting network has been expanded to 331 Flood Forecast Stations(199 Level Forecast for Villages/Town on the bank of the rivers and 132Inflow Forecast Stations for Dams and Barrages) covering 23 States &2 UTs in 20 river basins for taking proper mitigation  measures  by  respective  State  Governments.  In  the  State  of  Andhra  Pradesh,  there  are  13  level forecasting stations and 10 in flow forecasting stations.
-  Modernization  of  Flood  Forecast  Formulation: Flood  forecasting  is  issued  up  to  5  days  in advance for major river basins across the country including the State of Andhra Pradesh. The same is updated every three hours and is available online (https://120.57.99.138/index.php).
-  Modernization in dissemination of flood forecasts: Dissemination of flood forecasts has also been modernized  through  a  dedicated  website.  Daily  Flood  Situation  Report  cum  Advisory  is  shared  with  all stakeholders aswell as general public using social media platforms.
-  Bilateral agreements with upper riparian countries Nepal, Bhutan &China have been made for data sharing.
-  Common  data  platform,  Water  Information  Management  System(WIMS),  under  National  Water Informatics  Centre  (NWIC),  has  been  created  to  ensure  seamless  data  flow  from  States  and  CWC formodelling  work.  In  addition,  arrangements  for  seamless  data  flow  from  agencies  like  INCOIS,  NASA, JAXA, etc. have also been made.

****