Lok Sabha Question No. 97 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-02
Subject: Occurrence of Urban Floods
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Jagannath Sarkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.97 TO BE ANSWERED ON FEBRUARY 02, 2023 OCCURRENCE OF URBAN FLOODS

## NO.97 . SHRI JAGANNATH SARKAR:

Will the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs be pleased to state:

- a) Whether the Government has any data indicating the causes for frequent occurrence of urban floods in the country, State-wise;
- b) if So, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
3. whether the Government has conducted any study to ascertain the
4. economic loss caused to the citizens due to urban floods;
- d) if so, the details thereof and if not; the reasons therefor;
6. whether the Government has taken any measures or prepared a strategy to prevent urban floods and help mitigate the future losses;and
7. f)
8. if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE)

- (a) &(b): Management of urban flooding falls under purview of the State Governments and Urban Local BodylUrban Development Authority who are responsible for maintaining the drainage and sewerage system-However, MoHUAhas issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) on urban flooding in 2017 to assist all State GovernmentslUTs to raise the level of preparedness and for emergency operationsl rescue and restoration servicesThe SoP identified unplanned   development, encroachments, sprawling habitations alongside rivers, urban growth on watersheds, intensified urbanization coupled with spatial expansion urban areas and absence of robust drainage system are some of the reasons for urban flooding:

(c) to (f) As on date there are no studies conducted on the economic loss caused to the citizens due to urban floodsHowever, as per data compiled by Central Water Commission (CWC); losses due to floods across all States to public utilities, houses and crops have been aggregated during 1953 -2016 to approximately Rs: 3,47,581crore:

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued Guidelines on Management of Urban Flooding' in September, 2010 to, inter-alia, assist State Governments in preparation of their Urban Flood Management Plan: The Guidelines also contain roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders including actions to be taken for disaster risk management with regard to Urban Flooding: They have preparedand shared a road map for mitigation of urban floods with all States/UTs:

Since 2021-22, NDMA is implementing Aapda Mitra scheme covering 350 districts across the country prone to floods, landslides, cyclones and earthquakes to train 1,00,000 volunteers disaster response for assisting and saving lives using the basic techniques-NDMA also spearheaded many publications, guidelines and capacity building workshops for State Governments and vulnerable communities towards resilience building for disasters including urban floods:

In order to complement the efforts of StatelUT Governments, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is implementing 'Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation' (AMRUT) in select 500 cities and towns- Under the Mission, {2969 crores has been allocated for storm water drainage: Against this allocation, 19 States/UTs have taken up 809 projects worth {2980 crores: Of these; 689 projects worth {1420 crores have been  completed: The completed  projects have helped eliminate 2,952 water logging points by laying 871 km of storm water drainage network Ministry has published a Manual on Storm Water Drainage Systems, 2019 to provide guidance on sustainable design, planning & management of storm water drainage systems and emergency plan for flood response in urban areas:

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