By PTI
NEW DELHI: Despite enormous losses to life and property in floods, solely three states and one Union Territory have enforced the legislation for floodplain zoning which goals to minimise the injury brought on as a result of deluge.
Experts have referred to as for its speedy implementation within the nation in view of frequent floods occurring as a result of local weather change.
Floodplain zoning measures intention at demarcating zones or areas prone to be affected by floods that hit with completely different magnitude, frequencies, and likelihood, and specify the sorts of permissible developments in these zones in order that each time floods truly happen, the injury may be minimised.
The mannequin invoice for floodplain zoning gives for formation of a floodplain zoning authority by state governments, with a governing physique below the chairmanship of the chief minister.
The authority is meant to delineate floodplain zones and different measures for retaining flood plains encroachment free.
According to a senior official, solely three states and one Union Territory until now have enacted the laws.
These are Manipur, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand, and the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir.
Even there, the delineation and demarcation of floodplains is but to be accomplished, the official stated.
Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, and Odisha — all main flood-prone states — haven’t taken initiative to enact any laws with regard to Flood Plain Zoning.
“We have asked states to reduce any further construction on the floodplains and ensure there is no further encroachment,” the official advised PTI.
Experts have warned of ‘dire penalties’ if floodplain zoning will not be accomplished on the earliest in view of the rise within the variety of floods as a result of local weather change.
Last yr, the Jal Shakti ministry advised Parliament that about 2,000 individuals misplaced their lives as a result of cyclonic storms, heavy rains, and floods and landslides throughout 2021-22.
According to knowledge shared by the ministry in response to a query in Rajya Sabha, the very best variety of lives misplaced as a result of cyclonic storms, heavy rains and floods and landslides in 2021-22 have been in Maharashtra at 489, adopted by Gujarat and UP, every of which misplaced 162 lives.
Environmental activist and water knowledgeable Himanshu Thakkar stated despite the fact that some states have enacted the laws, no state within the nation has applied it. “The solely state which did just a little bit of labor on it was Maharashtra, the place they assigned ‘pink’ and ‘inexperienced’ line on floodplains, which meant that no exercise inside ‘pink line’, which was restricted behind the ‘inexperienced line.’
“Even that was de-notified. So even Maharashtra is not following it now. No political party is being serious about its implementation and there is no political will,” he stated. Thakkar careworn that if floodplains are encroached upon or turn into a dumping floor then it’s an invite to main hassle.
“In terms of increased floods and more urban footprint the situation is worsening. Also, in the context of climate change, again the flood intensity increases so it is urgent to come out with a floodplain protection plan,” he stated.
Shripad Dharmadhikary, setting activist and founding father of Manthan Adhyayan Kendra, a centre to analysis, monitor and analyse water and power points, stated that for flood administration there’s a want to present house to the river.
“Floodplain zoning is for the river to flow and only when you have proper zoning regulations then you can prevent encroachment on river floodplains which has become a very serious issue. This is particularly important where rivers flow through urban areas where there is more encroachments. So these areas specially require strict zoning regulations,” he advised PTI.
He stated not demarcating floodplains can have critical repercussions as a result of building there results in rise within the stage of floods which might have a really excessive catastrophe fee.
Dharmadhikary too careworn the position of local weather change, which, he stated, has brought on a rise in frequency of the floods. “So now, it is more important to do floodplain zoning,” he added.
In the final parliament session, a standing parliamentary committee additionally rapped Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar for not taking any initiative to enact the mannequin invoice for floodplain zoning regardless of bearing enormous lack of property.
The committee had then requested the Centre to make renewed and concerted efforts to influence the state governments for enactment of the mannequin invoice on flood plain zoning, with a provision that allowed the states to change or customise the invoice consistent with their socio-economic realities.
“Further, the Ministry of Jal Shakti should also consider providing financial assistance to those states that are willing to implement floodplain zoning,” it had stated.
National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) too has repeatedly requested states within the Ganga basin for demarcation, delineation, and notification of river floodplains and removing of encroachment from river mattress/floodplains of Ganga and its tributaries in adherence to the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016.
NEW DELHI: Despite enormous losses to life and property in floods, solely three states and one Union Territory have enforced the legislation for floodplain zoning which goals to minimise the injury brought on as a result of deluge.
Experts have referred to as for its speedy implementation within the nation in view of frequent floods occurring as a result of local weather change.
Floodplain zoning measures intention at demarcating zones or areas prone to be affected by floods that hit with completely different magnitude, frequencies, and likelihood, and specify the sorts of permissible developments in these zones in order that each time floods truly happen, the injury may be minimised.
The mannequin invoice for floodplain zoning gives for formation of a floodplain zoning authority by state governments, with a governing physique below the chairmanship of the chief minister.
The authority is meant to delineate floodplain zones and different measures for retaining flood plains encroachment free.
According to a senior official, solely three states and one Union Territory until now have enacted the laws.
These are Manipur, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand, and the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir.
Even there, the delineation and demarcation of floodplains is but to be accomplished, the official stated.
Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, and Odisha — all main flood-prone states — haven’t taken initiative to enact any laws with regard to Flood Plain Zoning.
“We have asked states to reduce any further construction on the floodplains and ensure there is no further encroachment,” the official advised PTI.
Experts have warned of ‘dire penalties’ if floodplain zoning will not be accomplished on the earliest in view of the rise within the variety of floods as a result of local weather change.
Last yr, the Jal Shakti ministry advised Parliament that about 2,000 individuals misplaced their lives as a result of cyclonic storms, heavy rains, and floods and landslides throughout 2021-22.
According to knowledge shared by the ministry in response to a query in Rajya Sabha, the very best variety of lives misplaced as a result of cyclonic storms, heavy rains and floods and landslides in 2021-22 have been in Maharashtra at 489, adopted by Gujarat and UP, every of which misplaced 162 lives.
Environmental activist and water knowledgeable Himanshu Thakkar stated despite the fact that some states have enacted the laws, no state within the nation has applied it. “The solely state which did just a little bit of labor on it was Maharashtra, the place they assigned ‘pink’ and ‘inexperienced’ line on floodplains, which meant that no exercise inside ‘pink line’, which was restricted behind the ‘inexperienced line.’
“Even that was de-notified. So even Maharashtra is not following it now. No political party is being serious about its implementation and there is no political will,” he stated. Thakkar careworn that if floodplains are encroached upon or turn into a dumping floor then it’s an invite to main hassle.
“In terms of increased floods and more urban footprint the situation is worsening. Also, in the context of climate change, again the flood intensity increases so it is urgent to come out with a floodplain protection plan,” he stated.
Shripad Dharmadhikary, setting activist and founding father of Manthan Adhyayan Kendra, a centre to analysis, monitor and analyse water and power points, stated that for flood administration there’s a want to present house to the river.
“Floodplain zoning is for the river to flow and only when you have proper zoning regulations then you can prevent encroachment on river floodplains which has become a very serious issue. This is particularly important where rivers flow through urban areas where there is more encroachments. So these areas specially require strict zoning regulations,” he advised PTI.
He stated not demarcating floodplains can have critical repercussions as a result of building there results in rise within the stage of floods which might have a really excessive catastrophe fee.
Dharmadhikary too careworn the position of local weather change, which, he stated, has brought on a rise in frequency of the floods. “So now, it is more important to do floodplain zoning,” he added.
In the final parliament session, a standing parliamentary committee additionally rapped Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar for not taking any initiative to enact the mannequin invoice for floodplain zoning regardless of bearing enormous lack of property.
The committee had then requested the Centre to make renewed and concerted efforts to influence the state governments for enactment of the mannequin invoice on flood plain zoning, with a provision that allowed the states to change or customise the invoice consistent with their socio-economic realities.
“Further, the Ministry of Jal Shakti should also consider providing financial assistance to those states that are willing to implement floodplain zoning,” it had stated.
National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) too has repeatedly requested states within the Ganga basin for demarcation, delineation, and notification of river floodplains and removing of encroachment from river mattress/floodplains of Ganga and its tributaries in adherence to the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016.