Lok Sabha Question No. 161 (STARRED), answered on 2025-07-31
Subject: Flood Control in Kerala
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Adv K. Francis George

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *161

ANSWERED ON 31.07.2025

## FLOOD CONTROL IN KERALA

| *161.                                                                                                          | ADV K. FRANCIS GEORGE                                                                                          |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:                                                           | Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:                                                           |
| (a) whether the Government has assessed the increased frequency and intensity of monsoon floods in             | (a) whether the Government has assessed the increased frequency and intensity of monsoon floods in             |
| Kerala during recent years including damage caused in districts such as Kottayam;                              | Kerala during recent years including damage caused in districts such as Kottayam;                              |
| (b) if so, the details thereof along with key findings on existing flood control infrastructure gaps;          | (b) if so, the details thereof along with key findings on existing flood control infrastructure gaps;          |
| (c) whether any specific Central projects or financial assistance have been sanctioned during the last three   | (c) whether any specific Central projects or financial assistance have been sanctioned during the last three   |
| years to strengthen river embankments, drainage systems and flood management infrastructure in Kerala;         | years to strengthen river embankments, drainage systems and flood management infrastructure in Kerala;         |
| and                                                                                                            | and                                                                                                            |
| (d) if so, the details of these projects along with their implementation status including financial allocation | (d) if so, the details of these projects along with their implementation status including financial allocation |
| made, district-wise?                                                                                           | made, district-wise?                                                                                           |
| ANSWER                                                                                                         | ANSWER                                                                                                         |
| THE MINISTER OF JAL                                                                                            | THE MINISTER OF JAL                                                                                            |
| (a) to (d) : A statement is laid on the Table of the                                                           | (a) to (d) : A statement is laid on the Table of the                                                           |
| House.                                                                                                         | House.                                                                                                         |
| (SHRI C R PAATIL)                                                                                              | (SHRI C R PAATIL)                                                                                              |

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. *161 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2025 IN LOK SABHA REGARDING 'FLOOD CONTROL IN KERALA'

(a)   to  (d) Kerala  has  been  experiencing  varying  degree  of  monsoon  floods  during  recent  years. Government of Kerala has informed that floods are often observed in western low-lying areas of Kottayam district especially in Kumarakom, Thiruvarpp and Aymanam Grama panchayaths. The flooding in eastern portion of Kottayam district occurred during the year 2018-2021 due to landslides associated with heavy rain falls and consequent silting up of rivers in this region. Flooding in the recent years have been caused from Meenachil, Muvattupuzha and Manimala rivers flowing through Kottayam district.

As per report of Central Water Commission on 'Assessment of Area Affected Due to Floods in India (2024)' based on satellite imageries data from 1986 to 2022, the total flood affected areas in Kerala is assessed  as  0.253  Mha  and  area  protected  through  various  steps  taken  for  flood  management  by the Central/State Government is 0.346 Mha.

The district  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 Kerala for last 5 years i.e. 2018 to 2022 is given at Annexure .

Flood management and anti-erosion schemes are formulated and implemented by concerned State Governments  as  per  their  priority.  The  Union  Government  supplements  the  efforts  of  the  States  by providing  technical  guidance  and  promotional  financial  assistance  for  management  of  floods  in  critical areas. To strengthen the structural measures of flood management, Union Government had implemented Flood Management Programme (FMP) during XI & XII Plans for providing central assistance to States for works  related  to  flood  control,  anti-erosion,  drainage  development,  anti-sea  erosion,  etc.  which  is continued as a component of 'Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP)' during 202122 to 2025-26. In Kerala 4 Flood Management Schemes costing Rs 279.74 Crore were included under Central  Sponsored  scheme  FMP/FMBAP  during  XI  Plan.  Till  date  central  assistance  amounting  to  Rs 137.95 Crore has been released against these 4 schemes.

As a non-structural measure of flood management, Central Water Commission (CWC) issues shortrange flood forecasts with a lead time up to 24 hrs. to concerned State Governments at identified locations. In  order  to  provide  more  lead  time  to  the  local  authorities  to  plan  evacuation  of  people  &  take  other remedial measures, Central Water Commission (CWC) has developed basin wise flood forecasting model based on rainfall-runoff mathematical modelling for 7 days advance flood forecast advisory at identified flood  forecasting  and  inflow  forecasting  stations. Central  Water  Commission  maintains  06  Flood Forecasting  stations  in  Kerala  consisting  of  4  level  forecasting  stations  (Neeleswaram,  Kumbidi, Malakkara & Muthankera) and 02 inflow forecasting stations (Idukki Reservoir & Idamalayar Reservoir).

The primary responsibility of disaster management rests with the State Government concerned. The Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Government and provides requisite logistics and financial  support.  The  State  Government  undertakes  assessment  of  damages  caused  due  to  12  notified natural  calamities  including  rain  and  floods  and  provide  relief  assistance  from  State  Disaster  Response Fund (SDRF) already placed at their disposal as per Government of India's approved norms. Additional financial  assistance  is  provided  from  National  Disaster  Response  Fund  (NDRF),  as  per  laid  down procedure  in  case  of  disaster  of  'severe  nature'  which  includes  an  assessment  based  on  the  visit  of  an Inter-Ministerial  Central  Team  (IMCT).  The  details  of  central  share  of  SDRF  released  by  Ministry  of Home Affairs  (MHA) during 2020-21 to 2024-25 is given as under:

| Sl. No.   | Year    |   Fund released under SDRFbyMHA (in Crore) |
|-----------|---------|--------------------------------------------|
| 1         | 2020-21 |                                      251.2 |
| 2.        | 2021-22 |                                      251.2 |
| 3.        | 2022-23 |                                      264   |
| 4.        | 2023-24 |                                      277.6 |
| 5.        | 2024-25 |                                      291.2 |
|           | Total   |                                     1335.2 |

***

*****

## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  to  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION NO. *161 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2025 REGARDING 'FLOOD CONTROL IN KERALA'

## STATEMENT SHOWING FLOOD DAM AGE DURING 2018 TO 2022

| Sl. No.   | Year   | Area affecte d in (M.ha.)   | Popul ation affecte (millio n) )   | Damage to Crops   | Damage to Crops   | Damage to Houses   | Damage to Houses   | Cattle lost nos.   | Human lives lost nos.   | Damage to public utilities (Rs. Crore)   | Total damages crops, houses& public utilities (Rs.Crore)   |
|-----------|--------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------|-------------------|-------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|-------------------------|------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sl. No.   | Year   | Area affecte d in (M.ha.)   | Popul ation affecte (millio n) )   | Area (M.ha.       | Value (Rs. Crore) | Nos.               | Value (Rs. Crore)  | Cattle lost nos.   | Human lives lost nos.   | Damage to public utilities (Rs. Crore)   | Total damages crops, houses& public utilities (Rs.Crore)   |
| 1         | 2      | 3                           | 4                                  | 5                 | 6                 | 7                  | 8                  | 9                  | 10                      | 11                                       | 12                                                         |
| 1         | 2018   | 3.15                        | 5.41                               | 0.09              | 168.48            | 324386             | 998.13             | 47953              | 450                     | 2154.15                                  | 3320.76                                                    |
| 2         | 2019   | 0.01                        | 0.11                               | 0.01              |                   | 16543              |                    | 11338              | 301                     |                                          |                                                            |
| 3         | 2020   | 0.01                        | 0.11                               | 0.01              |                   | 14016              | 0.00               | 2                  | 14                      | 0.00                                     | 0.00                                                       |
| 4         | 2021   | 0.59                        | 0.04                               | 0.19              | 9256.30           | 9771               | NR                 | NR                 | 131                     | NR                                       | 9256.30                                                    |
| 5         | 2022   |                             | 0.15                               | 0.11              |                   | 2216               |                    | 161                | 109                     |                                          |                                                            |

NR- Not Reported