Parliament Question: River Bank Erosion

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 171 ANSWERED ON 29.01.2026 RIVER BANK EROSION

171. Dr. MOHAMMAD JAWED:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has conducted any study to ascertain the area of land lost due to river bank erosion across the country during the last twenty years and if so, the details thereof, State-wise, particularly in Bihar, district-wise;

(b) whether the Government has any data indicating the number of persons displaced and the extent of economic and infrastructural loss due to river bank erosion during the said period and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the concrete steps taken to control erosion and mitigate the annual loss and destruction considering that floods and river bank erosion are an annual dismay for the people; and

(d) the details of the funds spent to control river bank erosion in Bihar during the said period along with the total output achieved? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)

(a) & (b) The country faces the problem of flood and erosion in varying degrees in different parts including Bihar. Data on the area of land lost, number of persons displaced, extent of economic and infrastructural loss due to river bank erosion in the country is not maintained centrally. The morphological study of river Ganga (from Devprayag to Farakka) using remote sensing has been conducted by Central Water Commission (CWC). The study indicates that an estimated erosion of 252.43 Sq km and a deposition of 591.90 sq km occurred in the reaches of river Ganga in Bihar during the period 1970 to 2010.

In the morphological study of river Kosi conducted by CWC using satellite data, it was observed that a total estimated erosion of 617.92 sq.km and a deposition in 646.28 sq. km occurred in the reaches of river Kosi in Bihar during the period 1977-2016.

(c) & (d) 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. Union Government is implementing "Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP)" 1for providing central assistance to States for works related to flood control, anti-erosion, drainage development, anti-sea erosion, etc. Total central assistance of Rs. 8737.65 Crore has been released under FMBAP Scheme upto March, 2025. Total 49 flood management projects of Bihar with an estimated cost of Rs. 2106.12 Cr. have been included for central funding under Flood Management Programme

(FMP) component of FMBAP scheme, out of which central assistance amounting to Rs. 924.40 Cr. has been released to Govt. of Bihar. Under River Management Activities and Works related to Border Areas

(RMBA) component of FMBAP, central assistance of Rs. 732.15 Crore has been released to Govt. of Bihar till March, 2025.

In addition to above an allocation of Rs.1500 crore has been earmarked under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) for erosion mitigation activities during the period 2021–26, and Rs. 1000 crore has been provided to States under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to support the resettlement of erosion-affected populations.

Central Water Commission (CWC) maintains a network of 350 flood forecast stations (150 Inflow Forecast Stations + 200 Level Forecast Stations) in the country. The network has been established in consultation with State Govt./Project authorities. It has a network of 43 stations (40 level & 3 inflow) in Bihar.

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