1.0 - BACKGROUND

1.1  Devastation by  floods  is a recurrent annual phenomenon  in  India.   Almost every year, some or  the other  part  of  the  country  is  affected  by  floods.  Floods  cause  enormous  damage  to  life,  public property  and  disruptions  to  infrastructure  besides  psychological  and  emotional  instability  amongst  the people.

1.2  Many  areas  of  the  country  are  very  vulnerable  to  floods  and  there  is  a  great  risk  of  damage  to national assets  like highways,  roads,  railway  tracks, etc. apart  from damages  to  life and property.  These aspects will be given due  consideration and addressed appropriately while  considering  the proposals for central assistance to the state governments.

1.3    During X Plan,  following  four  schemes were  sanctioned  to  provide  central  assistance  to  the  flood prone states to take up flood control and river management works in critical areas:

(a)  Critical Anti-erosion works in Ganga Basin States (a Centrally Sponsored Scheme),

(b)  Critical Flood Control and Anti Erosion Schemes  in Brahmaputra and Barak Valley States  (a State Sector Scheme),

(c)  Improvement of Drainage in critical areas in the country (a State Sector Scheme) and

(d)  Critical  Anti-erosion Works  in  Coastal  and  other  than Ganga  Basin  States  (a  State  Sector Scheme).

1.4    During  XI  Plan,  the  above  four  schemes  operated  during  X  Plan  were  merged  together  and  a restructured scheme, namely, “Flood Management Programme” under State Sector  in Central Plan was approved ‘in-principle’ by the Cabinet in its meeting held on 02-11-2007. Based on the approval of  the cabinet,  the sanction of  the Flood Management Programme during XI Plan was   conveyed vide MoWR Order No. 5/3/2012-Ganga/P-III/3868-3928 dated  31st   October, 2013 ( Appendix-1)

During  XI  Plan,  the  central  assistance  was  provided  to  the  State  Governments  for  undertaking critical works  related  to  river management,  flood control, anti-erosion, drainage development, anti-sea erosion, flood proofing, flood prone area development programme in critical regions, restoration of damaged flood control/ management works and anti-sea erosion works.  

1.5  Funding pattern during XI Plan was 75(Centre): 25(State) for General/Non-Special Category States and 90(Centre): 10(State) for Special Category States. 

1.6  The Special Category States cover the North Eastern States, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand.

1.7  The Ministry of Water Resources  issued  first set of guidelines on Flood Management Programme during XI Plan in December, 2007 and revised guidelines  on FMP during XI Plan were issued with the approval of Secretary(WR) in August, 2009. 

1.8  In  view  of  the  demand  by  States  for  completion  of  ongoing  and  new  critical  works  of  flood management,  the XII Plan Working Group on  ‘Flood Management and Region Specific  Issues’ set up  by  the  Planning  Commission  recommended  continuation  of  Flood  Management  Progamme during XII Plan. Accordingly, the Ministry of Water Resources, in wider consultations with the States, Planning  Commission,  Ministry  of  Finance,  NDMA,  M/o  Environment  &  Forest  and    M/o  Rural Development, formulated the proposal for continuation of Flood Management Programme during XII Plan with outlay of Rs. 10,000 crore. 

1.9  The  scheme  of  Flood  Management  Programme  during  XII  Plan  was  appraised  by  Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) headed by Secretary (Exp.), Ministry of Finance in its meeting held on 08-03-2013 and it recommended continuation of Flood Management Programme during XII Plan with an outlay of Rs. 10,000 crore for approval of the Cabinet.

1.10  The Committee of Secretaries also  recommended continuation of Flood Management Programme during XII Plan with outlay of Rs. 10,000 crore in the meeting held on 30-07-2013.   

1.11  The  Cabinet  in  its  meeting  held  on  17-10-2013  accorded  approval  to  the  continuation  of  Flood Management Programme  for providing central assistance  to  the extent of   Rs. 10,000 crore  to  the State Governments during XII Plan. 

1.12   In view of many changes in scope, eligibility criteria, funding pattern and procedure for approval and release of  funds during XII Plan,  the earlier guidelines are modified and  the present guidelines  for Flood Management during XII Plan are circulated for reference.