The recent surge in heavy rainfalls leading to widespread flooding across India has underlined the need for a revised map of flood-prone regions. Current maps fail to account for areas beyond those listed by the central monitoring system. Given shifts in flooding patterns and frequencies, it is imperative to include climate change impacts to create a comprehensive map reflecting today’s reality.
Identifying Flood-Prone Areas According to NDMA
Regions most vulnerable to floods, as identified by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), are primarily situated along the Ganga-Brahmaputra river basin. This includes Northern states such as Himachal Pradesh and Punjab and stretches down to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh in the northeast. Coastal states like Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, along with some portions of Telangana and Gujarat, also witness annual floods.
The Necessity For A New Map
The current demarcation of flood-prone areas is based on approximations made by the National Flood Commission (Rashtriya Barh Ayog or RBA) back in 1980. The commission, established by the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation in 1976, conducted studies on India’s flood-control measures following the failure of the National Flood Control Programme’s initiatives started in 1954. Around 40 million hectares of India’s geographical area is susceptible to floods according to the RBA’s reports.
Climate Change Impacts
Throughout the past four decades, India has grappled with the repercussions of climate change. An increase in global temperatures results in prolonged dry spells followed by heavy rainfall. Research published in the science journal Nature indicates that extreme rainfall events increased threefold in Central India between 1950 and 2015. Furthermore, a report titled ‘Climate Change and India’ by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest predicts an upsurge in flood frequency due to rising temperatures between 2070 and 2100.
Increased Downpours
Recently, the southwest monsoon season has been causing considerable flooding in different parts of the country. In 2020 alone, nearly 256 districts across 13 states reported floods because of excessive rainfall.
An Overview of Floods
Floods occur when water overflows onto typically dry land. They can result from heavy rain, onshore ocean waves, rapid snowmelts, or the breaking of dams or levees. Even mere inches of water can cause catastrophic damage. Depending on factors such as precipitation rate and land topography, floods can develop within minutes or gradually, lasting for days, weeks, or even longer. Floods are the most common and widespread weather-related natural disasters. Of all types of floods, flash floods are particularly dangerous due to their swift onset and destructive capabilities.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
The NDMA stands as the paramount statutory body for managing disasters in India. Formally established in September 2006 per the Disaster Management Act, 2005, India’s Prime Minister heads the NDMA, which consists of nine other members, including one designated Vice-Chairperson. The NDMA’s core mandate includes coordinating responses to natural or man-made disasters and promoting capacity building in disaster resilience and crisis response. Its chief objective is to devise policies, plans, and guidelines for effective and timely disaster management. Ultimately, NDMA aims to create a safe, disaster-resilient India through a comprehensive, proactive, tech-driven, and sustainable strategy that involves all relevant stakeholders and promotes preventive, preparedness, and mitigation practices.
