Flood Management
After the unprecedented floods in the country in 1954, the Govt. of India announced a National Policy on Floods comprising three phases viz.-
The immediate
The short term and
The long term measures
The flood control activities in Assam started mainly after the announcement of National Water Policy. Subsequently, "outlined plan for flood control in Assam" along with various comprehensive plans were prepared and the priority areas, which need immediate and urgent attention were identified.
Till date, the Water Resources Department has taken up works primarily for the general development of the rural sector and for the protection of major townships in both the Brahmaputra and Barak valley. Schemes have also been taken up to relieve the drainage congestion in the cities and other important areas.
Construction of Embankments and Flood walls
River training and bank protection works
Anti erosion and town protection works
River channelization with pro siltation device
Drainage improvement/ Sluices
Raised Platform
Flood forecasting and warning
Flood zoning
The Water Resources Department, Assam has been implementing the above mentioned flood management schemes from the beginning of 2nd Five Year Plan and is continuing till now. The up to date physical achievement is as follows:
Length of Embankment
…
4473.82 Km.
Raising & Strengthening of Embankment
…
655.502 Km
Anti-Erosion and town protection works
…
911 Nos.
Drainage schemes
…
874.966 Km
Sluices (Major)
…
94 Nos.
Sluices (Minor)
…
545 Nos.
No long-term measures have been implemented so far to mitigate the flood and erosion problems of the state. Till date only Immediate and short-term measures are implemented by the state Water Resources Deptt. as stated above.
Implementation of the above structures, have provided reasonable protection to about 16.50 Lakh Hectares of flood affected areas out of the total 31.05 Lakh Hectare of flood prone area as identified by the R.B.A. for the state. This flood prone area of 31.05 Lakh hectares comes to about 39.58 % of the total land area of Assam. Whereas the flood prone area of the country as a whole comes to about 10.2 % of the total area of the country, it signifies that the flood prone area of Assam is four times the national mark of the flood prone area of the country.
Sl.No.
Name of Division
Division Wise Length (in Km.)
Name of District
District Wise Length (in Km.)
1
Dibrugarh
364.358
Dibrugarh
290.508
2
Sibsagar
368.995
Tinsukia
73.85
3
Jorhat
238.54
Sibsagar
368.995
4
Majuli
189.214
Jorhat
347.254
5
UAID, Jorhat
55.35
Golaghat
133.85
6
Dhemaji
199.051
Dhemaji
199.051
7
Dhakuakhana
104.155
Lakhimpur
432.184
8
N. Lakhimpur
328.029
Sonitpur
220.328
9
Tezpur
220.328
Karbi Anglong
34.162
10
Nagaon
232.047
Nagaon
232.047
11
Morigaon
173.328
Morigaon
173.328
12
Guwahati East
78.14
Kamrup (M)
38.765
13
Guwahati West
216.89
Kamrup (R)
274.865
14
PGP
18.60
Darrang
183.138
15
Mangaldoi
183.138
Udalguri
16.00
16
Nalbari
229.51
Nalbari
229.51
17
Baksa
68.70
Barpeta
188.974
18
Barpeta
188.974
Baksa
52.70
19
Chirang
26.105
Chirang
26.105
20
Kokrajhar
26.611
Bongaigaon
25.54
21
Dhubri
67.13
Kokrajhar
26.611
22
Goalpara
58.10
Dhubri
41.59
23
Diphu
34.162
Goalpara
58.10
24
Karimganj
180.14
Cachar
474.349
25
Silchar
424.709
Karimganj
195.80
26
Cachar Invstegation
44.23
Hailakandi
128.246
27
Hailakandi
149.316
N.C Hills
0.00
28
Haflong
0.00
Dima Hasao
0.00
Total
4465.85
Total
4465.85
Funding Pattern of Flood Management Works
The flood management works of the state are being funded from the following sources. Due to limitations of fund of its own, the state has to rely more upon the grant of the Central government. At present, the flood management activities are being carried out with the following funding –
Flood Management Programme (FMP)
Additional Central Assistance (ACA)
State Plan
State Disaster Response fund (SDRF)
North Eastern Council (NEC)
Non-lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR)
Joint River Commission (JRC)
Assistance from external agencies (NABARD)
Externally Aided Project (ADB & World Bank)