Disaster Management of Flood in India

In this article, we will discuss about the causes of flood, what are the damages caused by the flood? Which is the apex body for Disaster Management in India? Why do we need a robust Disaster Management System for Floods? How to address the pain areas of flood management and What is the Institutional Framework for Flood Management in India? 

Which is the apex body for Disaster Management in India?

The apex body for Disaster Management in India is National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) which was constituted by the Government of India through enactment of Disaster Management Act, 2005.

The National Disaster Management Authority is responsible to lay down policies and regulations for disaster management in India.

NDMA deals with all types of disasters including floods.

Flood Prone Areas in India

The four river basins are flood prone in India when heavy rainfall is received during the short period of time during monsoon season:

i) Ganga river basin

ii) Brahmaputra river basin

iii) North-West river basin

iv) Central India and Deccan rivers basin

Why do we need a robust Disaster Management System for Floods?

India is prone to floods and the problem has been aggravated by rapid increase in population, development and urbanization in flood plains.

A. What are the causes of flood?

The reasons for occurrence of flood are:

a) The rivers banks do not have adequate carrying capacity to contain the high river flows brought down from the upper catchment area 

b) Silting of river beds decreases carrying capacity of river

c) Erosion caused near river beds and river banks causes the changes in river course. (eg: Kosi river which is called Sorrow of Bihar)

d) Poor natural drainage in flood prone areas

e) Landslides leads to obstruction of river flow

f) Encroachment of flood plains of the rivers for habitation and development activities

g) Sudden cloud bursts followed by flash floods in mountain regions

h) Sudden release of water from upstream reservoirs and dams causes flood in downstream areas

B. Damages caused by flood

The flood causes following damages:

• loss of lives
• severe damage to personal properties - houses will get damaged
• leads to loss of means of livelihoods - crops will be destroyed, cattle heads lost
• damage to infrastructure and public utilities
• Spread of epidemics
• Non-availability of drinking water, essential commodities and medicines

The focus has to shift from post-flood relief, rehabilitation, emergency response and reconstruction efforts to pre-disaster preparedness, mitigation and prevention efforts.

Flood Preparedness, Mitigation and Prevention

The pain areas which needs to be addressed for flood management are:

1) How to make structures flood-proof ?

2) How to regulate activities in flood plains of the rivers ?

3) How to improve the Flood forecasting and warning system ?

How to address the pain areas of flood management?

We can address the pain areas of flood management by:

1) Identify and mark flood prone areas on map

2) Prepare flood vulnerability maps

3) Expand and Modernize flood forecasting and warning systems

4) Study problems related to river erosion

5) Identify dams, embankments and reservoirs for review and modification

6) Improve drainage system

7) Collect real-time hydro-meteorological data on rivers in China, Nepal and Bhutan

8) Regulate use of flood plains and enact and enforce a legislation for flood plain zoning

What is the Institutional Framework for Flood Management in India?

The disaster management is a state subject, hence state government is primarily responsible for flood management in the states. 

A. Initiatives taken by the Central Government

Central government has taken various initiatives and set up organizations for the management of floods.

i) Setting up National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in 2005 under Disaster Management Act, 2005

ii) Setting up National Executive Committee (NEC) to assist NDMA in discharge of its functions

NDMA and NEC prepare National Disaster Management Plan and help in reviewing and monitoring of the compliance status of the directions issued by the Central Govenment.

B. Initiatives taken by the State Governments

i) Set up State Disaster Management Authority

ii) Set up State Executive Committee

Suggestions for making flood management system more robust:

1) Set up a central organization which lays down policy and implements measures to deal with the Flood Management in India in consultation with states and various other stakeholders.

2) River Basin Organizations can be set up to deal with the management of water resources at river basin level,

3) National Flood Management Institute (NFMI) can be set up in one of the flood prone areas to provide  training to the administrators, police personnel, engineers and NGOs.