New Delhi: The Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP) proposed by the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation (DOwR, RD & GR) has been given the green light by PM Modi. The program comes with a budget of Rs. 4,100 crores spanning from 2021-22 to 2025-26. It aims to bolster flood management efforts, particularly by incentivising states adopting flood plain zoning.
Recognising the growing impact of extreme weather events due to climate change, the Union Government seeks to enhance flood management measures. The program, spanning five years, aims to utilise modern technology and innovative approaches to mitigate the increasing intensity, frequency, and extent of floods. The FMBAP consists of two components:
- Flood Management Programme (FMP): With an allocation of Rs. 2940 crores, this component focuses on assisting state governments in critical flood control, anti-erosion, drainage development, and anti-sea erosion works. Special Category States will receive 90% central assistance, while General/Non-Special Category States will receive 60%.
- River Management and Border Areas (RMBA): This component, with an outlay of Rs. 1160 crores, concentrates on flood control and anti-erosion measures along common border rivers. It includes hydrological observations, flood forecasting, and pre-construction activities of joint water resources projects with neighbouring countries, all with 100% central assistance. The RMBA component not only aims to manage floods but also to protect critical installations of security agencies and border outposts along border rivers from flood and erosion threats.
