Lok Sabha Question No. 230 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-01-29
Subject: Identification of Erosion and Flood Prone Zones in Assam
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Ranjit Dutta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 230

ANSWERED ON 29.01.2026

## IDENTIFICATION OF EROSION AND FLOOD PRONE ZONES IN ASSAM

## †230. SHRI RANJIT DUTTA:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has identified erosion and flood-prone zones in Sonitpur, Biswanath and North Lakhimpur districts of Assam;

(b) if so, the details thereof indicating the number of incidents of river erosion reported in the said districts during the last three years and the number of families affected consequently;

(c)  whether  any  Central  or  Centrally  assisted  schemes  are  currently  under  implementation  to  prevent riverbank erosion, especially along the Brahmaputra and Jia Bharali rivers and if so, the details thereof;

(d)  whether  the  Government  has  released  any  financial  assistance  for  the  rehabilitation  and  livelihood support of families affected by the river erosion; and

(e) if so, the details thereof along with the funds approved and released by the Union Government and the State Governments for the said purpose?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a)  &  (b) The  country  faces  the  problem  of  flood  and  erosion  in  varying  degrees  in  different  parts including Assam. The morphological study of river Brahmaputra using remote sensing has been conducted by Central Water Commission (CWC). The study indicates that an estimated erosion and deposition in the stretch Brahmaputra River is 252.6 sq.km and 118.6 sq.km respectively during 2003-05 and 2008-11.

As  per  report  of  Central  Water  Commission  on  'Assessment  of  Area  Affected  Due  to  Floods in India'  based  on  satellite  imageries  data  from  1986  to  2022,  the  total  flood  affected  areas  in  Assam is assessed  as  2.477  Mha  and  area  protected  through  various  steps  taken  for  flood  management  by the Central/State Government is 2.110 Mha. Flood affected areas assessed in districts Sonitpur, Bishwanath and Lakhimpur of Assam is 1.172 Lha, 0.693 Lha and 1.30 Lha respectively.

The data on number of incidents of river erosion and the number of families affected consequently is not maintained centrally.

(c) 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 also promotional financial assistance for management of floods in critical

areas. Union Government is implementing "Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP)" for  providing  central  assistance  to  States  for  works  related  to  flood  control,  anti-erosion,  drainage development, anti-sea  erosion,  etc.  Total  111  Flood  Management  and  Anti  Erosion  Projects  under  Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP) in Assam including 38 projects on river Brahmaputra and Jia Bharali have been completed and one project is ongoing. Central share amounting to Rs. 1582.54 Crore has been released to Assam upto March, 2025.

(d) & (e) The primary responsibility of financial assistance for the rehabilitation and livelihood support of families affected by the river erosion 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).

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