Mechanics of Floods in Ganga and Brahmaputra Basins and Long Term Solutions

Abstract

The Ganga River basin is one of the largest and complex river network traversing eleven States of India, revered and regarded as lifeline of the region. Brahmaputra water is the prime resource endowed to the NE region and it has the potential to bring all the desired growth and prosperity to the region. Flood is a major concern in Ganga and Brahmaputra basins and it becomes the biggest bottleneck against development due to recurring floods. River Governance is a multi-dimensional and multi-disciplinary task and poses a formidable challenge for administrators, decision makers and water sector professionals, both in Central and State Government. This paper focuses itself on one such river governance dimension i.e. integrated approach in tackling the recurrent floods. The primary responsibility for flood control lies with the States. The Union Government renders assistance to States which is technical, advisory, catalytic and promotional in nature. We need to remind ourselves that floods per se do not understand State boundaries. Further, for large basins like Ganga and Brahmaputra, the cooperation and synergy among the riparian States on the issue of tackling flood is very vital. In this context, the significance of integrated development and operation of storages in the major sub-basins of Ganga and Brahmaputra river systems to mitigate the flood damages is emphasized in this paper presenting outcome of a study.