Parliament Question: Need for constituting a National Integrated Flood Management Group

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4069 ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026 NEED FOR CONSTITUTING A NATIONAL INTEGRATED FLOOD MANAGEMENT GROUP 4069 SHRI MUKUL BALKRISHNA WASNIK: Will the Minister of Jal Shakti be pleased to state: (a) whether Government has taken any steps toward the constitution of the National Integrated Flood Management Group (NIFMG), as recommended by the Parliamentary Standing Committee; (b) if so, the details of its current functional status, if not, the specific reasons for not establishing it as a permanent apex body despite its proposed role in unifying national and State-level flood mitigation efforts; and (c) manner in which the Central Government currently ensures high-level coordination with State Governments and international neighbours for flood management in the absence of a centralised group? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY) (a) to (c) There is no proposal under consideration of the Government to constitute a permanent apex body for flood management in the form of a National Integrated Flood Management Group (NIFMG). Moreover, 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. The National Water Policy (NWP) of Ministry of Jal Shakti has emphasized flood mitigation through structural & non-structural measures, integrated operation of reservoirs with sound decision support system, rehabilitation of natural drainage system, integrated farming systems and non- agricultural developments, creation of storage projects with dedicated flood storage as the long term solution to the devastating floods occurring every year, etc. NWP highlights importance of flood forecasting for flood preparedness and expansion of flood forecast network extensively across the country and its modernization. 1Ministry is implementing a centrally sponsored 'Flood Management and Border Area Programme (FMBAP)' for providing Central Assistance to States for works related to river management, flood control, anti-erosion, drainage development, anti-sea erosion, etc. Central Water Commission (CWC) maintains a network of 350 flood forecasting stations (150 Inflow Forecast Stations + 200 Level Forecast Stations) in the country. The network has been established in consultation with State Government/Project authorities. Under Dam Safety Act 2021, National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) through its regional offices, state & project level organisations are issuing directions to the Dam owners to establish monitoring & Forecasting system and inform all stakeholders well before release from dams. Government has existing bilateral institutional arrangements with neighbouring countries sharing common upstream and downstream river systems with border States, for cooperation on flood forecasting & early warning systems and other water resources related matters of mutual interests. ***** 2