Flood Disaster Management

The various measures adopted for flood mitigation may be categorized into two groups:

•	Structural
•	Non- structural

The general approach was aimed at preventing floodwaters from reaching the potential damage centers, as a result of which a large number of embankments came up along the various flood prone rivers. The main thrust of the flood protection programme undertaken in the country so far in the form of structural measures may be grouped into the following:

•	Dams and Reservoirs
•	Embankments, flood walls, sea wall
•	Natural detention basin
•	Channel improvement
•	Drainage improvement
•	Diversion of floodwaters.

The effective functioning of all the physical measures taken, it is necessary that pre- and post-monsoon checks must be made special repairs must be carried out prior to flood period.

The non-structural measures, on the other hand, aim at modifying the susceptibility to flood damage as well as modifying the loss burden. The various non-structural measures being implemented in the country are:

Modifying the susceptibility to flood damages through:

•	Flood plain management
•	Flood proofing including disaster preparedness, and response planning and
•	Flood forecasting and Warning

Modifying the flood loss burden through:

•	Disaster Relief
•	Flood fighting including Public Health Measures

Setting up of flood forecasting and warning services is one of the most cost-effective non- structural measures available.

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