PM to officials: Identify flood-prone areas

Taking serious note of the fact that in the last 10 years there has been an estimated Rs 1,60,700 crore worth of damages to crops, houses and public utilities and around 18,000 deaths have occurred throughout the country owing to floods, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed top officials of the water resources ministry to identify the flood-prone areas and conduct their vulnerability mapping.

The Prime Minister undertook a review of the country’s flood preparedness with officials of states most vulnerable to the natural calamity as well as officials of Niti Aayog and Union ministries of water resources, sanitation and urban development.

According to highly placed sources, the Prime Minister is learnt to have directed the Central Water Commission (CWC) officials to identify the flood-prone areas and conduct their vulnerability mapping. Apart from this, desiltation, clearing of water channels and removal of garbage from the drainage systems and flood plains are some of the measures which were listed out to the concerned departments by the Prime Minister.

The Met department was asked to understand the need to provide accurate forecasting, while the water resources ministry was directed to provide flood related data to vulnerable states.

Ministries of health, drinking water and sanitation, and urban development will be coordinating with flood-prone states for ensuring better preparedness in case of a flood-like situation this year, sources informed.

It was indicated to officials of concerned ministries, as well as representatives of flood-prone states, that better coordination between the Centre and states would result in a swift response in case a flood-like situation sets in this year.

India receives southwest monsoon for about four months between June and October every year. The floods normally occur between July and September. Some of the most vulnerable states prone to floods are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam and Orissa.

Between 2006 and 2015, the maximum loss of human lives was recorded in 2008 when 2,876 fatalities were reported due to floods. The minimum loss of lives was in 2015, with the figure of human casualties being 944, according to data available with this newspaper.

In terms of loss to crops, houses and public infrastructure, the maximum loss of Rs 32,500 crore was reported in 2009. In 2015, this loss was to the tune of Rs 29,400 crore. The minimum loss to public property and crops was reported in 2014, which stood at Rs 6,600 crore in 2014. This data pertains to the period between 2006 and 2015.