Indian flood management programme
The Flood Management Programme (FMP) was launched by the Government of India amounting to Rs. 8000 crore under Central Plan during 11th Plan period (2007-2012). The Scheme has already been approved by the Government on 2nd November 2007. The Scheme was formulated after amalgamating the four schemes of 10th Plan viz;
Critical anti-erosion works in Ganga Basin States – a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) with an approximate cost of Rs. 305.03 crore ; Flood Control Works in Brahmaputa Valley States - a State Sector Scheme (SS) with an approximate cost of Rs. 225 crore ; Critical anti-erosion works in coastal and other than Ganga Basin States – a State Sector Scheme with an approximate cost of Rs. 46.17 crore ; and Improvement of Drainage in the critical areas of the country –a State Sector Scheme (SS) with an approximate cost of Rs. 49.62 crore.
The Ministry of Water Resources issued sanction order in November 2007 and the detailed guidelines for providing Central Assistance to the State Governments in December 2007. Special Category States, i.e, NE States, Sikkim, H.P, J&K and Uttarakhand got 90% funding from central government and 10% from the state governments. Other States got 75% from the central government and 25% from state government.
During 10th Plan (2002-07) a total of Rs. 424.08 crore was released against Central share of Rs. 543.73 crore. It included an amount of Rs. 75.89 crore release to Farakka Barrage. An amount of Rs. 44.54 crore was further released in the year 2007-08 for spill over works of 10th Plan.
Planning Commission has intimated Rs. 2715 crore as the 11th Plan outlay for the Flood Management Programme. The Annual Plan outlays for the scheme during the year 2007-08 was Rs. 393 crore whereas for the financial year 2008-09 the outlay is Rs. 649 crore.
Under the Flood Management Programme the Central assistance will be provided to the States for taking up the following type of works in critical areas: River Management Works; Flood Control Schemes; Anti-erosion works; Drainage Development works and schemes; Flood Proofing works and Anti-sea-erosion works etc. Certain conditions are there viz these works should be apprised by the competent authority as per the guidelines issued by the Planning Commission and have received investment clearance and the States have made budgetary provisions in the States annual plans. Central assistance to the State Governments at the rate of 90 per cent grant-in-aid has also been agreed first time for restoration of damaged flood management works also under the scheme.
The Ministry of Water Resources has received 315 proposals from 13 states at an estimated cost of Rs. 1965.79 crore, out of which239 proposals from 12 states at an estimated cost of Rs. 1307.01 crore have been included in the Flood Management Programme. Proposals sent without mandatory clearances and were the State Governments did not make requisite budget provision in their state plan budget have not been included under FMP.
The State Governments also have some responsibilities as the scheme would be implemented by flood control/water resources/irrigation departments of the State Governments. They shall ensure inclusion of the scheme in their state plan and make requisite budget provision towards Central as well as State share on annual basis. They shall also ensure acquisition of land require under the scheme from their own resources, however the amount spent on land acquisition would be adjusted against the state’s share towards overall cost of the project. The State Governments which adopted Flood Plain Zoning Bill would be given priority over other states. The State Governments will be responsible for managerial inputs towards financial management, quality control, physical progress, timely completion of the works etc. shall be the responsibility of the State Governments.
