Flood plain zoning: Centre contemplates for making it ‘mandatory’ as only four States comply with law

Centre considers mandatory Flood Plain Zoning legislation for states to access flood management funds, despite limited compliance.

“With only four States complying despite repeated reminders, the Centre is contemplating making it mandatory for States to enact Flood Plain Zoning legislation if they want to access Central flood-management funds,” officials have said.

The four States that have enacted such legislations are: Manipur, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and the erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir.

A senior official said the Ministry of Jal Shakti has been in continuous communication with State Governments, urging them to notify the Flood Plain Zoning Act and demarcate flood zones. “Recently, the Central Water Commission updated the Model Act, and the Ministry plans to initiate another round of consultations with States,” the official said.

The official said the Ministry has proposed making the enactment of the Flood Plain Zoning Act, a prerequisite for States to access funds under the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP).

"We are going for Cabinet approval for the next phase of the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme. For that, now the condition for any State to access resources under the FMBAP will be that the State must have enacted the Flood Plain Zoning Act. So, you will not get money if you have not enacted the Flood Plain Zoning Act," the official said. The official said the Ministry has made several other efforts to address these issues.

"In May 2022, the Secretary of the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation wrote to State Chief Secretaries, urging them to enact appropriate legislation. In a meeting in January 2023, the Secretary emphasised the importance of flood plain zoning for comprehensive flood management and minimising flood damage," the official added.

"The Ministry of Jal Shakti has been persistently urging States to take action. However, the progress remains limited to a few States. Water management, including flood management, is a State subject under the Constitution. States need to take proactive measures in this regard," another official said.