Management of floods: national disaster management guidelines

These guidelines aim to assist the ministries and departments of the Government of India (GOI), the state governments and other agencies in preparing Flood Management plans (FMPs).

The guidelines rest on the following objectives: (i) shifting the focus to preparedness by implementing, in a time-bound manner, an optimal combination of techno-economically viable, socially acceptable and eco-friendly structural and non-structural measures of FM; (ii) ensuring regular monitoring of the effectiveness and sustainability of various structures and taking appropriate measures for their restoration and strengthening; (iii) continuous modernisation of flood forecasting, early warning and decision support systems; (iv) ensuring the incorporation of flood resistant features in the design and construction of new structures in the flood prone areas; (v) drawing up time-bound plans for the flood proofing of strategic and public utility structures in flood prone areas; (vi) improving the awareness and preparedness of all stakeholders in the flood prone areas; (vii) introducing appropriate capacity development interventions for effective FM, including education, training, capacity building, research and development, and documentation; (viii) improving the compliance regime through appropriate mechanisms; and (ix) strengthening the emergency response capabilities.

The guidelines have been drawn up in the context of a rigorous risk management framework to ensure the effectiveness of action plans that are developed by various agencies, including the central ministries, and departments, state governments, local bodies including Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) like metropolitan development authorities, municipal corporations, municipal councils and district authorities.