Lok Sabha Question No. 1752 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-05
Subject: Water-logging in Cities
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Smt. Vijaylakshmi Devi

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1752

TO BE ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 05, 2024

## WATER-LOGGING IN CITIES

NO. 1752.    SMT. VIJAYLAKSHMI DEVI:

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

- (a) whether the incidents of flooding and waterlogging have increased in the cities particularly in Patna during monsoon and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the Government has taken any steps to resolve the said problem; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken and the budget spent in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)

(a): Management of urban flooding falls under the purview of the State Governments  and  the  Urban  Local  Bodies  (ULBs)/  Urban  Development Authorities, who  are  responsible for maintaining the drainage and sewerage system. Usually, increased incidences of high intensity rainfall in short duration is mainly responsible for urban floods, which is further compounded by unplanned growth, encroachment of natural water bodies, inadequate  sewer  systems,  inadequate  rainwater  drainage  systems, encroachments,  etc.   Ministry  of  Housing  and  Urban  Affairs  does  not centrally maintain the details of the incidents of floods and water logging in cities.

In Patna City, Central Water Commission (CWC) maintains two Flood Forecast stations viz. Gandhi ghat and Digha ghat. CWC issues two type of forecasts viz. short-range forecast (with response time upto 24 hrs) and 7 days advisory flood forecast. Advisory forecast is based on IMD weather forecast and using various satellite inputs through River basin mathematical  models. Both  Flood  Forecasting  stations  reported  severe flood situation (water level crossing the danger level at the station) during the year 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2024.

The State Government of Bihar has reported that there was no case of flooding in Patna City in 2024 and only water accumulation during heavy rains was reported in some urban areas. It has also been informed by the State  that  Patna  town,  situated  on  the  right  bank  of  River  Ganga,  is protected  by  protection  wall,  which  has  been  constructed  considering Highest  Flood  Level  (HFL)  of  River  Ganga.  The  highest  water  levels recorded at Digha ghat and Gandhi ghat during the rainy season in 2024

were below their respective HFLs.

- (b)  &  (c)      The  mitigation  measures for flood control and preparation of drainage plan comes under the purview of the State Government and Urban Local Bodies/Urban Development Authorities at city level. Government of India supplements the efforts of the States through schematic interventions/ advisories. It provides financial and technical support to the States to strengthen Urban Planning ecosystem.

The Government of Bihar has informed that Patna city 2quiped with 56  permanent  Drainage  Pumping  Stations  and  28  Temporary  Drainage Pumping Station to cater to water logging issues. Apart from above, to keep Patna and adjoining areas free from water logging, State Government has approved Storm Water Drainage projects worth Rs.1230.74 crore and 22 new Drainage Pumping Station worth Rs.325.48 crore. As reported by the State Government, an expenditure of Rs.545.15 crore has been made towards the above works. Further total expenditure of Rs.137.74 crore has been made for enhancement of pump capacity during last five years.

The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has published the following documents/advisory guidelines for improving urban drainage and flood management, viz.:

- i. Urban and Regional Development Plans Formulation and Implementation (URDPFI) Guidelines, 2014:

https://mohua.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/URDPFI%20Guidelines%20Vol %20I(2).pdf

- ii.  Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Urban Flooding

http://www.tcpo.gov.in/sites/default/files/TCPO/schemes/SOP-Urbanflooding.pdf

iii. River Centric Urban Planning Guidelines in 2021 to enable cities in the development  of  conjunctive  water  management  approaches  including nature-based solution https://mohua.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/RCUP%20Guidelines.pdf

## iv. Guidance Document on Creation of Rain Water Harvesting Parks https://mohua.gov.in/pdf/6566e1048ab41guidance-document-on-rainwaterharvesting-parks-final.pdf

Under  Atal  Mission  for  Rejuvenation  and  Urban  Transformation (AMRUT), storm water drainage is an admissible component which involves construction and improvement of drains/ storm water drains in order to reduce and eliminate flooding. Under AMRUT, 841 Storm Water Drainage projects worth ₹3018 crore has been approved. As reported by the States, 783  Storm  Water  Drainage  projects  worth  ₹2,271  crore  have  been completed, which has resulted in elimination of 3,621 water logging points.

Under AMRUT 2.0, rejuvenation of water bodies and wells is one of the  main  components.  The  admissible  elements  under  this  include harvesting  the  rainwater  through  storm  water  drains  into  water  body (which is not receiving sewage/ effluent). Under AMRUT 2.0, 3,078 water body rejuvenation projects worth ₹6,159 crore have been approved so far.

*****