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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA
REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1945
ANSWERED ON 30.07.2026
RIVERBANK EROSION IN ASSAM
1945. Md. RAKIBUL HUSSAIN:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has undertaken any study on riverbank erosion and
land loss in Assam and if so, the details and the key findings thereof;
(b) whether any comprehensive mitigation strategy has been prepared to
address riverbank erosion in the said State and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the details of the funds allocated for erosion control projects in Assam
during the last five years?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) As per the morphological study of the Brahmaputra River carried out by the
Central Water Commission (CWC) through the Indian Institute of Technology
(IIT), Guwahati, it is estimated that the Brahmaputra River underwent erosion
of approximately 252.6 sq. km and deposition of approximately 118.6 sq. km
during the period from 2003-2005 and 2008-2011.
Further, as per the study titled “Identification of potential erosion sites
based on satellite imageries for Majuli Island along river Brahmaputra, Assam”
carried out by the Brahmaputra Board through the Central Water and Power
1Research Station (CWPRS), Pune, continuous erosion near the confluence of the
Subansiri and Brahmaputra rivers was observed throughout the study period
(1986–2023). Overall, approximately 75 sq. km of land was eroded from various
parts of Majuli Island, while sediment deposition of approximately 58 sq. km
was observed along the banks of the Brahmaputra River within Majuli Island.
(b) & (c) Flood management and anti-erosion schemes are formulated and
implemented by the concerned State Governments as per their respective
priorities. The Union Government supplements the efforts of the States by
providing technical guidance and promotional financial assistance for flood
management in critical areas. An integrated flood management approach aims
at adopting judicious mix of structural and non-structural measures to provide a
reasonable degree of protection against flood damages at an economic cost.
The Union Government is implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme,
namely, the "Flood Management and Border Areas Programme" (FMBAP) to
provide central assistance to State Governments for works related to flood
control, anti-erosion, drainage development, anti-sea erosion, etc. During the
last five years, central assistance amounting to Rs. 342.63 crore has been
released to the Government of Assam under the FMBAP for flood management
and anti-erosion projects in the State. In addition, the Brahmaputra Board has
incurred an expenditure of Rs.109.10 crore on flood management and anti-
erosion works in Assam during the last five years.
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