Lok Sabha Question No. 4050 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-19
Subject: Flood Management System in Punjab
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Charanjit Singh Channi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4050

ANSWERED ON 19.12.2024

## FLOOD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN PUNJAB

## 4050.    SHRI CHARANJIT SINGH CHANNI

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has carried out any recent assessment of flood management systems in Punjab and if so, the details thereof;

- (b) the reasons behind frequent flooding in major districts of Punjab despite central assistance; and
- (c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to improve the river basin management and increase the flood bearing capacity of rivers like Sutlej and Beas?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) to (c) A committee was constituted by Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti for "Joint flood management study in wake of the extensive floods in the State  of  Himachal  Pradesh,  Punjab  and  Uttarakhand  in  July-August  2023"  headed  by  Chairman,  Central Water Commission (CWC) with members drawn from States of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand and other experts organizations.

The intense rainfall spell during the July and August of 2023 affected major rivers such as the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi, resulting in extensive flooding across the State of Punjab.

The committee has submitted recommendation with respect to following Terms of Reference (ToR):

- i. Feasibility of establishing Hydrological Observation (HO) sites and flood forecasting sites in the catchment of Sutlej and Beas rivers.
- ii. Integrate the inflow/flood forecasting network of Bhakra-Beas Management Board (BBMB) to  the  platform  of  Water  Information  Management  System/  National  Water  Information Centre (WIMS/NWIC).
- iii. Review of Rule Curves of Pong and Bhakra dams.
- iv. Feasibility of better flood plain management and measures to avoid encroachment of channels downstream of the dams to maintain its design discharge carrying capacity.

- v. Measures for better operation and maintenance (O&M) of embankments to prevent breaches causing damages

Indian  Meteorological  Department  (IMD)  on  the  request  of  Central  Water  Commission  (CWC)  has established a new Flood Meteorological Office (FMO) at Shimla for the river sub basins of Satluj, Beas and Ranjit Sagar Dam.

The committee has recommended establishing eight new HO sites which has been verified by CWC in the Beas Basin to improve flood risk management and water resource planning. These new eight HO sites in Beas basin have been approved by the CWC.

The  committee  recommended  for  integration  of  data  from  all  Hydro-meteorological  Stations  into  the WIMS  portal  to  enhance  data  coordination  and  management.  A  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoU) between BBMB and the Himachal Pradesh Government was signed in order to formalize data sharing.

The  Rule  Curves  for  Bhakra  and  Pong  dams  have  been  developed  and  provided  to  BBMB  to  make informed decisions about reservoir operations. CWC has also carried out flood routing studies for Bhakra and Pong Dams and provided to BBMB for facilitating safe operation of dams as per the needs.

CWC has also assessed Sutlej River's discharge capacity with the suggestion for its further improvement with  high-resolution  Digital  Elevation  Models  (DEMs).  The  committee  recommended  better  flood  plain management to avoid encroachment of channels downstream of the dams to maintain its design discharge carrying capacity.

The committee also recommended for regular inspection and maintenance of embankments to address wear and damage issue due to changing flood risks.

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