Lok Sabha Question No. 1101 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-08
Subject: Desilting of Rivers
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Sunil Kumar

## †1101.   SHRI SUNIL KUMAR

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the details of measures taken to remove silt from rivers;

(b) whether any work has been done to remove silt from Gandak river flowing through Valmiki nagar;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether any review has been conducted with regard to damages caused due to floods in the Gandak river every year; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1101

## ANSWERED ON 08.02.2024

## DESILTING OF RIVERS

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU )

(a) Erosion and deposition of silt is a natural process in alluvial rivers. Rivers pickup, carry and drop silt load as per their regime conditions i.e. discharge in the river, river slope, morphology, nature of silt etc. The desilting  measures  including  dredging  in  specific  reaches  of  rivers  for  removal  of  drainage  congestion, channel capacity improvement and navigation purpose are formulated and implemented by concerned States/ agencies as per requirement.

For the management of sediments in a holistic manner, the Department of Water Resources, River Development  &  Ganga  Rejuvenation,  Ministry  of  Jal  Shakti,  in  extensive  consultations  with  Central Government Ministries/ Departments/ State Governments/ UTs  has prepared the 'National Framework for Sediment Management' (NFSM). The framework lays emphasis on sediment management through integrated river basin management plan. It provides reference to all existing guidelines/ policies dealing with the various aspect  of  the  sediment  management.  The  framework  will  facilitate  the  concerned  stakeholders  such  as  the State Governments, other Ministries, Departments, etc. in planning strategies and implementation of projects giving due consideration to environment and ecology.

(b) & (c) State  Government of  Bihar has intimated that dredging/desilting of Gandak river, upstream of Gandak Barrage, Valmiki Nagar has been carried out to remove silt in the year 2019-20 wherein 1,68,464 cubic meter quantity of silt has been removed.

(d) & (e) The river wise data on flood damages, is not maintained centrally, however, state wise data on flood  damages  is  compiled  by  Central  Water  Commission  based  on  information  received  from  concerned states. The flood damage data pertaining to Bihar for last 3 years i.e. 2019 to 2021 is given at Annexure.

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (d) & (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1101  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  08.02.2024  REGARDING  'DESILTING  OF RIVERS'.

## STATEMENT SHOWING FLOOD DAMAGE IN THE STATE OF BIHAR (DURING 2019-2021)

| Sl. No.   | Year   | Area affected in   | Population Affected in   | Damage to Crops   | Damage to Crops    | Damage to Houses   | Damage to Houses   | Cattle lost   | Human lives lost   | Damage to public utilities   | Total damages crops, house,& public utilities   |
|-----------|--------|--------------------|--------------------------|-------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|---------------|--------------------|------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| Sl. No.   | Year   | Mha.               | Million                  | Area Mha.         | Value in Rs. Crore | Nos.               | Value in Rs. Crore | Nos.          | Nos.               | in Rs. Crore                 | in Rs. Crore                                    |
| 1         | 2019   | 1.061              | 14.94                    | 0.357             | 446.63             | 45161              | 27.95              | 183           | 300                | 167.50                       | 642.08                                          |
| 2         | 2020   | 0.77               | 10.23                    | 0.52              | 727.88             | 18775              | 11.70              | 133           | 62                 | 70.62                        | 810.19                                          |
| 3         | 2021   | 1.00               | 8.26                     | 0.65              | 929.60             | 12289              | 10.24              | 99            | 70                 | 5505.02                      | 6444.86                                         |

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