Recently, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources has presented its report on flood management in the Parliament. The report has expressed concern over the flood crisis across the country.
Main concerns:
- The subject of flood control is not mentioned in any of the three legislative lists of the Indian Constitution.
- However, entry 17 of the State List (Second List) mentions drainage and embankments.
- The excessive loss and damage caused by floods every year is indicative of failure of flood control policy/measures, inadequate preparedness and ineffective disaster management.
- Despite the introduction of the National Perspective Plan (NPP) in the year 1980, no project of interlinking of rivers has been implemented so far.
- The report expresses concern over the submergence of the Brahmaputra valley in Assam, particularly in Assam, due to hydroelectric projects in Arunachal Pradesh.
Proposal:
- The report suggested that ‘Flood control and management should be included in the Concurrent List of the Constitution.
- The report recommended setting up of a permanent institutional structure under the center in the form of National Integrated Flood Management Group (NIRMG).
- The group will be headed by the Union Minister of Jal Shakti and the concerned ministers of the state governments will be included as members.
- It has urged the Central Government to take immediate steps in the direction of inter-linking of rivers.
Source – The Hindu
