Govt.

of Assam
WATER RESOURCES DEPTARTMENT

A REVIEW OF

FLOOD MANAGEMENT MEASURES

AND FUTURE VISION IN ASSAM
Presentation for 3rd NEC SECTORAL SUMMIT

By - Er A. K. Mitra
Secretary to the Govt. of Assam
Water Resources Department, Dispur, Assam

BRAHMAPUTRA BASIN

BRAHMAPUTRA RIVER BASIN

Brahmaputra river is the 6th largest river in the world in terms of Water Resources
(629.05 Km3/year)
Drainage area : (Total - 5,80,000 Sq km.)
In India & Bhutan : 2,40,000 Sq km, Bangladesh : 47,000 Sq km.
Length: (Total- 2906 km)
India : 918 km, Bangladesh : 363 km , Assam : 640 km

1
RIVER SYSTEM OF BRAHMAPUTRA VALLEY

Major tributaries 41 Nos

North bank 26 Nos
South Bank 15 Nos

RIVER SYSTEM OF BARAK VALLEY

MEGHALAYA KARBIANLONG AND N.C.HILLS DISTRICTS

1
DHOLAI
BANDARKHAL

DAMCHARA Jatinga R
Larsing
CHANDRANATHPUR Madhura R
NABANPUR
SUROMOR KUMBHIRGRAM
BIHARA BORKHOLA RAJA BAZAR
AMARA
HILLARA NAGAR
JOINPUR
Badra R
Kushiyara R LALUGRAM
PANJPU
KARIMGANJ Chiri R
LABAK BAZAR
BADARPUR Jiri R
BHANGA
LATU SILCHAR BANSKAND LAKHIPUR
Barak R
MOHISHASAN
KALIGANJ KATHAL
T.G.
ADAIR KONA ALGAPUR
Dhaleswar RMOHANPUR
NILAM BAZAR
RATAKANDI
H

BEEL
Ghagra R
LADES

Katakhal DIDARKUSH
HAILAKANDI KABUGANJ MATINAGAR R.F
SONBIL
BANG

PATHARIA DWARBAND
KANAI BAZAR BHUBAN
LOWAR DHALAI MANIAKHAL AMARAGHAT
BOND SAPTAGRAM
PATHARKANDI BHANGA BAZAR
ANIPUR
LONGAIHAT
MOINPURHAT LALA CHEERA
SINGIRHAOR
RAHCHAND
T.G RHAWEITING
MUKAMCHERRA
DULLABCHERRA T.G.
Rukni Sonai R
KATLICHERRA KATAKHAL R.F
MANIPUR
LOWAIRPOWA

MANIPUR KURIAHERA
ISABEEL OLIVIA T.G
T.G. T.G
Longai R
DANCHERRA
GHARHURA
Singla R
4
TRIPURA
2

MIZORAM
RIVER SYSTEM BARAK VALLEY

Major tributaries 20 Nos

In India 11 Nos
India and Bangaladesh 15 Nos

2
 FLOODS AND EROSION
Main causes

‰ Physiographic condition of the valley

‰ Drainage congestion

‰ Geology and Geomorphology

‰ Excessive rainfall

‰ Seismicity and Landslides

‰ Encroachment of Riverine Areas

‰ Other factors

Map showing erosion sites in

Brahmaputra and Barak Valley

3
SIGNIFICANT EROSION REACHES OF RIVER BRAHMAPUTRA

Bank Reaches District Area in Ha

South Chumoni Tinsukia 400
South Dhola Hatighuli Tinsukia 600
South Rohmaria Dibrugarh 298
South Neamati Jorhat 328
South Majuli island Jorhat 42,000
North Kareng Chapori, Arney Chapari, Dhemaji 10,000
Matmara
South Moirabari-lahorighat-Bhuragaon Morigaon 15,000
South Hatimura area near Jakhalabandha Nagaon 186
North Bishwanath-Panpur Sonitpur 350
South Palasbari-Gumi area Kamrup 10,000
South Mukalmua area Nalbari 80,000
North Bohori-Baghbar area Barpeta 8,000
South Goalpara Town, Sonari-Hazirghat Goalpara 40,000
including South Salmara Township
North Dhubri-Patamari area Dhubri 2,500

DAMAGES DUE TO FLOODS & EROSION

‰ The state has a total flood prone area of
31.60 Lha

‰ Average area affected in a year 9.31

LHa.

‰ Average total damages in a year Rs

124.28 Crores

Since 1954
Total area eroded = 386,000 Ha. (7%)
Rate of erosion = 8,000 Ha./Year
No. of villages eroded = 2,534
Families affected = 90,700

Affected Reaches
Moderate to Severe 130
Most Severe 25

Oil Installations/Tea Gardens/

Important Towns and Cities/
Heritage Sites 18

4
 STRATEGY ADOPTED BY WATER RESOURCES DEPT
FOR FLOOD MANAGEMENT

Immediate and short-term measures:

‰ FLOW CONFINEMENT BY EMBANKMENTS
‰ ANTI EROSION MEASURES & RIVER TRAINING WORKS
‰ PRO-SILTATION DEVICES
‰ SLUICES
‰ DRAINAGE DEVELOPMENT WORKS

Long term measures:

Creation of reservoir in the upper reaches.
Task Force constituted by Govt. of India also equivocally opined
for implementation of such multipurpose projects for ensuring
flood moderation benefits

Funding pattern of the W R Dept

™ State Plan
™ Central Loan Assistance (CLA) /Central Sector
Schemes (CSS)/ Expenditure Finance
Committee (EFC)
™ Additional Central Assistance (ACA)
™ Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) / (NCCF)
™ North Eastern Council (NEC)
™ Non-lapsable Central Pool of Resources
(NLCPR)
™ Joint River Commission (JRC)
™ Assistance from external agencies (NABARD)

5
 TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION

9 Task force recommendation for taking up Flood

Management Measures as short term I and short term II has
not been fully operationalised as yet.

9 During 10th Five year Plan (2006-07), only 22 Cr has been

sanctioned for 10 numbers of flood management schemes.

9 The state govt strongly desires that recommendations of

the Task Force should be implemented during 11th Five year
Plan. Accordingly the proposal has been framed and is
being submitted to the Brahmaputra Board / Ministry of
Water Resources.

Future Perspective and Vision

¾ The short term measures undertaken by the dept has afforded
reasonable protection to 16.49 Lakh Hectare flood affected area
out of 31.50 Lakh Hectare (about 52%) flood prone area of the
state.

¾ It has been realised that the flood and erosion problem of the
state cannot be solved unless the long term measures, as
suggested by the National Flood Policy (1954) and
recommendations of master plan of Brahmaputra and task force
are implemented.

¾ Since the long term measures are not coming up very soon, the
state need to continue with the feasible short and medium term
measures for at least next 15 years.

¾ For this, the department has chalked out a Comprehensive Vision

plan considering the developmental prospects and the growth of
population in the state.

6
 Vision Plan 2020 Rs in lakh
Category of Schemes Priority-I Priority-II Total Estimated Cost

STRUCTURAL MEASURES
EMDANKMENT (in km)
New embankment 94.00 km 100 km 194.00 km 26210.00
Gap closing/retirement 175.00 km --- 175.00 km 7964.00
Re-Strengthening (R/S) 2464.40 --- 2464.40 km 52347.00
km
Town Protection works (No) 13 No 51No 64 No 11857.00
Anti- erosion Works (No) 79 No 323 No 402 No 64848.00
Drainage schemes (No/km) 43 No 212 km 43 No, 212 km 17237.00
Sluices (No) 63 No 42 No 105 No 8932.00
Unidentified schemes 1100.00
NON STRUCTURAL MEASURES
Raised platform (No) 30 No 304 No 334 No 10353.00
Flood Forecasting & insurance CWC Govt. of India is responsible
Flood Plain Zoning, Flood Risk Maps 500.00
Research & Development, 5000.00
Organisational infrastructure,
Hydrological Analysis, investigation
and planning of new schemes
Total 206348.00

Vision Plan 2020

The Government of Assam has already embarked upon an ambitious mega
project titled NORTH EASTERN INTEGRATED FLOOD AND RIVERBANK
EROSION MITIGATION PROJECT. The salient features of this project are-

Funding Agency: Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Nodal Agency: Ministry of DoNER

Estimated Cost: Rs 1600 crores (in Assam)

Expected investment To be decided by ADB & Govt. of India

Implementing Agencies Govt. of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in their

states
Status ADB has already sanctioned Project Preparation and
Technical Assistance (PPTA) for the part relating to
Assam. The PPTA will start from the1st week of April
2007.
Accordingly Draft Project Report of four selected
projects has been submitted to the ADB

7
 Proposed project site at
Oakland-to Mohanaghat
BRAHMAPUTRA RIVER BASIN area

Proposed project site at

Bandana-Matmara-Tekeliphuta
area

Proposed project site at

Proposed project site at Bonkoal-Mariahola-Difflopathar
Palasbari-Gumi and area
adjoining area

NORTH-EAST WATER RESOURCES AUTHORITY (NEWRA)

9 The Hon’ble Prime Minister during his visit to Assam on Nov
2004 announced establishing a cohesive, autonomous, self-
contained entity called North East Water Resources Authority
(NEWRA).

9 The formation of the NEWRA is in advance stage and active

consideration of Govt. of India.

9 This Authority will go a long way in proper utilization and

harnessing water resources of the entire North Eastern region
and will help in speedier implementation of the plans and
programmes so envisaged.

9 Hon’ble Prime Minister further reiterated during the conference

of Irrigation Ministers’ at New Delhi on Nov 2005 the need for
the creation of NEWRA for fostering the developmental process
in N. E. Region.

8
 FLOODS AND EROSION (Causes)
Physiographic condition of the valley

Narrow elongated U-shaped

valley opening towards the
Bay of Bengal branch of
approaching Monsoons

AVERAGE WIDTH
RIVER BRAHMAPUTRA
Valley : 80 to 90 Km,
River : 6 to 10 Km

BED SLOPE
Int. Border to Kobo: 1 in 2390
Kobo to Dhubri: 1 in 6990

DISCHARGE at Pandu
Max: 72,794 cumes (1962)
Min: 2,300 cumes (Jan/Feb)

9
 FLOODS AND EROSION (Causes)
Physiographic condition of the valley

ELEVATION VS DISTANCE OF THE BRAHMAPUTRA RIVER COURSE

FLOODS AND EROSION (Causes)

Drainage congestion
‰ High stages of the Brahmaputra river over prolonged
periods obstruct free discharge of tributaries causing
back flow and congestion near outfalls.

‰ Restricted waterway of road and railway bridges and

culverts obstruct the natural flow of water.

‰ Inadequate countryside drainage through sluices in

embankment system particularly during high floods
causes prolonged inundation in the countryside.

‰ Encroachment of natural drainages further

aggravates the situation.

10
 FLOODS AND EROSION (Causes)
Geology and
Geomorphology
‰ Lesser Himalayas
comprise of relatively
younger rock
formations and are in
the process of building
up. Friable in nature
and easily erodible &
prone to landslides.

‰ A very young river. Its

present configuration
took shape only during
the Pleistocene and
recent times

FLOODS AND EROSION (Causes)

Excessive Rainfall

‰ Excessive rainfall concentrated during the

monsoon months from May to October

‰ Mean annual rainfall over the catchments area in

India is around 2300 mm

‰ Mean annual rainfall varies between 2480 mm in

the Brahmaputra valley to 6350 mm in North
Eastern Hills.

11
 FLOODS AND EROSION (Causes)
Seismicity and Landslides

Brahmaputra Valley is subjected to frequent tectonic

activity. The valley falls under Zone V, which is highly
risk zone.

Some of the recent major earthquakes of this region are:

‰ Great Indian Earthquake-1897 (8.7)
‰ Srimangal Earthquake-1918 (7.6)
‰ Dhubri Earthquake-1930 (7.0)
‰ Assam Earthquake-1950 (8.6) and
‰ Indo-Burma Earthquake-1988 (7.0).

FLOODS AND EROSION (Causes)

Seismicity and Landslides

‰ Frequent tectonic activity causes geo

morphological changes and landslides.

‰ Excessive sediment charge causes rivers to

change course frequently.

‰ Carrying capacity is reduced thereby river either

spills its banks or erodes.

‰ Formation of braided channels and constant

shifting of channels & sand shoals.

12
 FLOODS AND EROSION (Causes)
Encroachment of Riverine Areas

‰ Narrowness of the valley and restricted

availability of plain areas for habitation.

‰ Increase in population and developmental

activities leading to encroachment of chars.

‰ Density of population in plain areas more than

200 persons per sq km.

FLOODS AND EROSION (Causes)

Other causes
‰ Deforestation and improper land use due to the practice of
shifting or Jhum cultivation in the hill tracts and grazing

‰ Laterals southward shift of the river causing migration of

bank line through erosion.

‰ Fanning out effect at Nodal points causing instability &

erosion.

‰ Lateral southward shift of the river

‰ Deforestation and improper land use

‰ Fanning out effect at Nodal points

13
 LONG TERM (STRUCTURAL)
MEASURES

FLOOD MANAGEMENT MEASURES ADOPTED

BY WATER RESOURCES DEPT
5000 4448 4458 4465.19
4176
4000
Length in km

3161
3000

2000

1000
211
0
1954 1969 1980 1992 2002 2006

Length of embankment Year

Cumulative length of embankment constructed by the

Water Resources Department

14
FLOOD MANAGEMENT MEASURES ADOPTED
BY WATER RESOURCES DEPT

18 15.8 16.181 16.49

16 13.98
Area in lakh ha 14
12
10
8 7.16
6
4
2 0
0
1954 1969 1980 1992 2002 2006

Benefited area Year

Area benefited (Cumulative) due to construction of embankments by the

Water Resources Department

FLOOD MANAGEMENT MEASURES ADOPTED

BY WATER RESOURCES DEPT
1200
Drainage Channel in km

1000
846 850.69 856.69
770 772
800

600

400

200
0
0
1954 1969 1980 1992 2002 2006
Length of Drainage channel Year

Cumulative length of Drainage channel constructed

by the Water Resources Department

15
 FLOOD MANAGEMENT MEASURES ADOPTED
BY WATER RESOURCES DEPT

800 681 704

600 533
Numbers

400

200 67
2 29
0
1954 1969 1980 1992 2002 2006
Year
No of A/E and Town Protection Works

Cumulative No of A/E, Town Protection works

completed by the Water Resources Department

SATELLITE PLAN FORM OF THE BRAHMAPUTRA IN

GUWAHATI-GUMI REACH 2002

Zoomed View of Saraighat Bridge

Width of Channel at A – 18 Km
Width of Channel at B – 1.5 Km

16
 SCHEMES EXECUTED UNDER NEC

9th FIVE YEAR PLAN (1997-2002)

Sl. No Name of scheme Estimated Fund released by NEC

amount (Rs in Lakh)
(Rs in Lakh)
1 Controlling of Jiadhal 5403.29 Lakh Project has started in
phased manner.
Earmarked fund is 145
lakh for 2006-07
2 R/S to Flood protection, 499.74 450.00
Patharkandi-Ph-II
Total 5903.03 450.00

SCHEMES EXECUTED UNDER NEC

10th FIVE YEAR PLAN (2002-2007)
Sl. No Name of scheme Estimated Fund released by
amount NEC
(Rs in (Rs in Lakh)
Lakh)
1 Anti-erosion measures of Chunpura Bazar 111.09 109.80
area (Tinsukia District)
2 A/E to NH-44 at Lowaipowa against 50.87 50.87
erosion of river Longai (Karimganj Dist.)
3 Controlling of Gainadi for protn of Rail & 499.85 499.55
Road communication for Arunachal
Pradesh. (Dhemaji Dist.)
4 a) Controlling of Jiadhal river in Dhemaji 1233.00 Subsequently
District. Estimated Cost - Rs. 1233.00 Lakh modified and taken
to 10th Plan
b) Controlling of Jiadhal river in Dhemaji 9.03 8.00
Dist.(Model Study).(Conducted by B. B.)
Total 1903.84 668.22

17
 9 The people of Assam genuinely expect and benignly
wish that the NEC would play a more active role to
reduce the perpetual flood and erosion havoc by
extending generous funding mechanism for
implementation of short and medium term flood and
erosion management schemes

9 The investment in the long run will boost economy

of the State of Assam and the benefit will be extended
to other North Eastern States as well since Assam is
the gateway of North East.

NEC SCHEMES AT A GLANCE

11th Five year Plan Proposals

Sl Name of Scheme Estimated Beneficiary

No. cost States
1 Controlling of Jiadhal river 5403.29 Assam, Arunachal
Pradesh
2 Survey and investigation of small projects 276.48 All NE states
3 Protection of NH-44 & Srigouri area near Badarpur 1656.60 Assam, Tripura
Town
4 R/S to extension of embankment along B/B of Longai 464.29 Assam, Tripura
5 R/S to flood prevention in and around Patharkandi 704.04 Assam, Tripura
6 R/S to extension of embankment along B/B of Longai 1022.04 Assam, Tripura
7 Protection of Naskar and Karicherra bazar area 499.89 Assam
8 Protection of Borbeel Kachari gaon and Muamari area 992.26 Assam
9 R/S and extension of B/B of Gainadi dyke 1448.06 Assam, Arunachal
Pradesh
10 Protection of Milanpur No.2 area and Road & Railway 998.80 Assam
line
11 Long term measures to check erosion of river 8553.50 Assam, Meghalaya
Brahmaputra near Porabhita and South Salmara in
Dhubri district.
12 Protection of Simen Chapori Town 1500.00 Assam

18
 Severely damaged N.H.-44 at Srigouri area due to
erosion & sloughening of river Barak

Severely damaged N.H.-44 at Srigouri area due to

erosion & sloughening of river Barak

River Barak

19
Severely damaged N.H.-44 at Srigouri area due to
erosion & sloughening of river Barak

N.H.- 44

Severely damaged N.H.-44 at Srigouri area due to

erosion & sloughening of river Barak

20