Explanation:

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, property (public and private) and disruptions to infrastructure, besides psychological and emotional instability amongst the people. Based upon the statistics of 59 years’ period (1953 to 2011), average annual flood damage in the country is more than about Rs. 1800 crore.

It was decided by the Government of India to provide central ASSISTANCE to the concerned State Governments for redressal of the above problem. Accordingly, during X Plan following four schemes were sanctioned to provide central assistant to the flood prone states to take up flood control and river management works in critical areas-

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

Critical Flood Control and Anti-erosion Schemes in BRAHMAPUTRA and BARAK Valley States ( a State Sector Scheme)

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

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

Due to unprecedented floods of the year 2004 in Assam, Bihar and West Bengal, the Ganga and Brahmaputra RIVERS crossed their highest flood levels at several places resulting in heavy loss of lives and properties. Hon’ble Prime Minister visited the flood affected areas of Assam and Bihar and directed the Ministry of Water Resources to CONSTITUTE a Task Force on Flood Management / Erosion Control to look into the problems of recurring floods in Assam and neighbouring states as well as Bihar, West Bengal and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. The Task Force, headed by Chairman, Central Water Commission, submitted its final report on 31st December, 2004. It recommended a number of flood management works under (a) Immediate Measures, (b) Short Term-I Measures and (c) Short Term-II Measures. Part of these works was taken up by enlarging the ongoing scheme (a) “Critical Anti-erosion Works in Ganga Basin States” and (b) “Critical Anti-erosion Works in Brahmaputra and Barak Valley States”.