Lok Sabha Question No. 4541 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-27
Subject: Role of National Flood Commission
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Phani Bhusan Choudhury

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4541

ANSWERED ON 27.03.2025

## ROLE OF NATIONAL FLOOD COMMISSION

## 4541. SHRI PHANI BHUSAN CHOUDHURY

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  National  Flood  Commission  was  set  up  in  1980  to  address  the  growing concerns of flooding in various parts of the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the details of the recommendations provided till now from the National Flood Commission, specifically for Assam regarding every year devastating flood and erosion during the monsoon season;

(c) whether there is any recommendation for permanent solution of flood and erosion in Assam; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) to (d) Government of India had constituted "National Flood Commission" (Rashtriya Barh Ayog) in 1976   to  review  various  aspects  of  the  flood  problem,  and  to  evolve  a  comprehensive  multi-disciplinary approach for tackling floods in the country, the report of which was submitted in 1980. The Commission made 207 recommendations. Summary of the important recommendations includes following the approach of comprehensive planning for water resources development and land utilization for optimum production on a long-term basis, preparation of master plans for water resources development and flood control for each river basin, set up of River Basin authorities, consideration of storage reservoirs as an important component in flood control and management, afforestation and soil conservation measures as a useful complement to flood  control  measures  in  the  watersheds  of  rivers  with  heavy  silt  charge,  mobilisation  of   people's participation,  anti-erosion  works  for  protection  of  towns,  industrial  areas,  groups  of  thickly  populated villages,  railway  lines  and  roads,  where  re-location  is  not  possible  on  techno-  economic  grounds,  use  of modern techniques  for  collecting  hydrological  and  meteorological  data,  for  flood  plain  mapping  and  for flood forecasting.

The important suggestions made by the National Flood Commission regarding flood and erosion in Assam are given below:

- i. The proposals regarding the dams on the Dibang and the Subansiri in the Brahmaputra Valley and Tipaimukh on the Barak should be expedited. These will also help in arresting silt.

- ii. Before  undertaking  construction  of  new  embankments,  the  physical  characteristics  of  the rivers should be carefully examined and alternatives other than jacketing of the rivers should be seriously considered. It may be that in a number of locations 'living with the floods' by way  of  providing  raised  villages  and  changing  of  cropping  pattern,  etc.,  may  be  the  best solution.
- iii. Owing  to  the  aggrading  river  beds  being  higher  than  the  surrounding  valleys,  the  flood damages,  whenever  they  occur  are  heavy.  It  is  advisable,  therefore,  to  regulate  future developments, especially in valleys which are highly prone to floods.
- iv. In  order  to  minimize  the  erosion  and  breaches,  the  location  of,  and,  spacing  between, embankments, should, as far as possible, be in conformity with design requirements.
- v. Anti-erosion  works  are  expensive.  In  case  of  danger  to  long  lengths  of  embankments,  it  is usually  more  economical  to  adopt  the  alternative  of  retirement  which  may,  therefore,  be considered as a competitive alternative to anti-erosion works.
- vi. The total flow in the Brahmaputra River is more than what can be harnessed or utilized in the valley. An inter-basin transfer of water to the Ganga basin will help flood moderation in the Brahmaputra basin.

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