Parliament Question: Flood Vulnerability in Kosi and Mahananda Rivers

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6319 ANSWERED ON 02.04.2026 FLOOD VULNERABILITY IN KOSI AND MAHANANDA RIVERS †6319. SHRI RAJESH RANJAN: Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has conducted any basin-level review of flood vulnerability in the Kosi and Mahananda river systems affecting the districts of Purnia Division and if so, the details thereof; (b) the details of flood management projects approved under Flood Management and Border Areas Programme in these districts during the last five years; (c) the number of hydrological observation stations and flood forecasting centres operated by the Central Water Commission in the Kosi–Mahananda basin; (d) whether any infrastructural gaps related to flood forecasting, drainage management or embankment safety have been identified and if so, the details thereof; and (e) the measures proposed to be taken to strengthen flood resilience in this region with Central assistance? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY) (a) As per report of Central Water Commission on “Assessment of Area Affected Due to Floods in India, 2024” based on satellite imageries data from 1986 to 2022, the total flood affected areas in Purnia division comprising four district Purnia, Araria, Katihar and Kishanganj is assessed as 2,77,815 Hectare. (b) to (e) Flood management and anti-erosion schemes are formulated and implemented by concerned State Governments as per their priority. The Union Government supplements the efforts of the States by providing technical guidance and also promotional financial assistance for management of floods in critical areas through a centrally sponsored scheme, Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP). Three flood management projects in Purnia division with central assistance of Rs. 81.59 Crore have been completed under Centrally Sponsored Scheme 'Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP)'. Central Water Commission (CWC) maintains 25 nos. of hydrological observation stations and 17 nos. of flood forecasting (16 level + 01 inflow) stations in the Kosi-Mahananda basin. The flood forecasting stations has been established in consultation with State Govt. /Project authorities. In order to provide more lead time to the local authorities to plan evacuation of people and take other remedial measures, CWC has developed basin wise flood forecasting model based on rainfall-runoff mathematical modelling for 7 days advance flood forecast advisory for all the forecasting stations in addition to short-range flood forecasts with a lead time up to 24 hours to concerned State Governments at identified locations. *****