Flood control programme in India

The flood-prone area has increased from 25 million hectares in 1953 to 34 million hectares in 1978 and is now around 40 million hectares. The average loss due to floods has worked out to Rs.4635.50 million in the last three decades, compared to just Rs.220 million in 1951. Over 5 million people are affected every year. The most frequently affected areas in India are in Assam, West Bengal and Bihar while Gujarat, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh suffer from this hazard to a lesser extent. A Rational Flood Control Programme was launched as early as in 1954 under which construction of embankments to the rivers, drainage channels, and raising of channels levels were undertaken. The Seventh Plan (1985-90) had a target of 2.5 million hectares to be brought under flood control at an investment of Rs.9473.9 million. One of the programmes is the preparation of a Master Plan for Flood Management and also of flood-zone maps. Soil conservation and afforestation programmes are proposed to be intensified, apart from new embankment schemes. Linking of rivers of North India to those of South India is a long-term programme to control floods.