Orissa Government approves flood control projects worth of Rs 2,850 crore
Friday, March 19, 2010

Report by Dipti Ranjan Kanungo;
Bhubaneswar: The meeting of 36th state flood Control Board held in the Orissa secretariat on Friday under the Chairmanship of the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The board has approved several flood control projects worth Rs 2,850 crore.
The Board gave his nod for two major projects to be implemented over rivers Subernarekha and Baitarani besides 121 proposals for controlling flood in different river systems.

Subernarekha river, which emerges from Chhotnagpur area of Jharkhand, crossed 245 miles though Orissa's Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts, before merging with the Bay of Bengal. It does not have any reservoir to check flood water during monsoon.

During monsoon, flood water of Subarnarekha creates havoc in northern districts of Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak and Keonjhar ( Salandi Renovation Project ) Rs 933.16 crore, Rs 62.67 Crore for Brahmani System ( Brahmani-Kelua – Birupa Island ) , Rs 1855 Crore for 121 different projects has been sanctioned.

The proposal has been submitted to the centre government to declaire National Project to the Rengali Project.

Finance Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadei, Legislature Pratap Keshari Deb, Prasanta Kumar Muduli, Chief Secretary Tarun Kanti Mishra, Development Commissioner Satya Prakash Nanda, Member of Board of Revenue Smt Rajalaxmi, Agriculture Production Commissioner R.M.Senapaty were present.

Valvonti floods, a distress signal

by Nandkumar Kamat

The flash floods at night, which created a nightmarish situation for the people of Sattari and Bicholim, is natures’ warning that all is not well with the management of the catchments of the inter-state Valvonti river - an important tributary of the Mandovi river. Goa shares this river basin with Maharashtra. Valvonti, a 22-kilometre long river with tidal influence till Sanquelim town, originates near Virdi in Sawantwadi taluka and enters Goa at Shiroli. The Costi river joins it at Ghonteli, the Cudnem river at Karkhazan and the Bicholim river, which originates from Maharashra and enters Goa at Kudchirem, joins it at Karapur. By these floods the Valvonti river has sent out a distress signal.

Flood control requires an integrated understanding of hydrology and ecology of the Valvonti river basin. Controlling such floods in future needs joint monitoring and management of Valvonti’s inter-state catchments. There are natural and man-made reasons for the recent flash floods. Natural reasons may include higher rainfall intensity, bottlenecks in the silted streams feeding the tributaries and truncation of the normal flow channels. Man-made reasons could be several but the systematic destruction of the steep slopes of the Virdi hills by plantation owners in the catchment area of Valvonti is a major cause. The floods might have lasted for a few hours but the intensity and consequent damages were far greater this time than in the past. In Keri, Sattari such flash floods were experienced for the first time in 60 years, so the people were caught by surprise, especially as they took place in the night. The government thinks that longer, taller and stronger RCC embankments will control the floods. But these are of limited use if the flood water carries a heavy sediment load and acquires a higher momentum downstream. Embankments which fragment the natural flood plain could actually cause more havoc in the downstream areas.

France, England and Belgium have faced the consequences of permitting constructions on their river banks. The urban populations in these countries paid a heavy price when they reclaimed the river flood plains. People initially wanted to have a closer look of the scenic rivers. In the process large areas of the flood plains were systematically reclaimed. Hard constructions came up. Under normal precipitation conditions nothing happened. But when it poured heavily the rivers, in spate, tried to recapture their lost flood plains. Massive floods in Europe in recent times have started a debate there about the technological limits of flood control. Now the focus is to conserve and protect the natural flood plains.

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‘We must learn flood lessons’ says minister

Sep 29 2007

by Peter Collins, South Wales Echo

A MAJOR study into how to prevent the kind of flooding that devastated parts of South Wales this summer is to be carried out. The pilot study, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government, will include evidence from Barry residents who were forced out of their homes by the floods on July 20. The study was announced by Jane Davidson, minister for environment, sustainability and housing, during an Assembly debate on the summer floods. She said: “The Assembly Government is directly funding pilot studies in Prestatyn and Barry from our Flood and Coastal Risk Management grant scheme. “The result of these pilot studies will assist in the development of future policy guidance and will support the spread of best practice for urban flood risk management to sites across Wales. Full Story

Flood control projects cleared, says CM Special Correspondent

TIRUCHI: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has cleared a Rs.207-crore scheme for strengthening the bunds of the Cauvery and Coleroon rivers in Tiruchi, Karur and Perambalur districts, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi announced here on Saturday.

The proposal was drawn up in the wake of frequent floods in the region during monsoon and the Public Works Department had sought financial assistance from the NABARD.

This apart, the State Government had sanctioned Rs.87 crore for implementing a flood prevention scheme in the Uyyakondan and Kudamuritti rivers in Tiruchi city, Mr. Karunanidhi said speaking at a function to mark the foundation laying and inauguration of several development schemes, including the Rs.144-crore drinking water supply augmentation scheme for the city.

He recalled that he had announced a flood prevention project for the city at a cost of Rs.50 crore after visiting the flood-affected areas during his previous regime. But the project failed to take off as the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam was voted out of power. “We have now revived the project and the government order was issued on September 27,” the Chief Minister said.

He said that the Government was keen on providing urban amenities to rural areas also. Several projects including improvement to tanks and water sources were being implemented under the Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam and Perooratchi Anna Marumalarchi Thittam.

CM orders early repair of roads

Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, Sept. 24: The chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik today instructed for an early repairing of roads in the flood-affected areas and to keep a vigil on the situation, as another depression is apprenhed to form over the Bay of Bengal.
Mr Patnaik was reviewing the flood situation in the state in a high level meeting here today.
It has been found in the meeting that after the heavy downpour in the last few days due to the depression formed over the Bay of Bengal, many parts of the Balasore, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj districts have been inundated by floods in the Subarnarekha, Baitarani and the Budhabalanga rivers.
The districts collectors have been instructed to provide relief materials for three days.
The special relief commissioner informed that as the water is receding, normalcy will be back within a day or two.
It was also informed that the flood condition in the Mahanadi river has already been brought under control.

Hopes afloat on anti-flood plan Friday, September 21st 2007

According to Works Minister Colm Imbert a new drainage system will be in place in Port of Spain by the end of the year. This may not mean that the flooding with which the country's capital is often plagued when rain falls will come to an end by year's end since, according to acting city Mayor Rishi Lakhan, the new system will not be fully installed until 2010. Full Story

Village green row hits flood plan

Attenborough was badly flooded earlier this year

A row over a village green could delay a major £50m flood defence scheme for the River Trent in Nottinghamshire.

The Environment Agency said it needed planning permission for a wall across the green in Attenborough, which was hit by severe flooding in 2000.

But some villagers, who use the green for football, cricket and bowls, oppose the route and want the wall to go behind the village green.

The agency said the plan could be shelved if permission was not granted.

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Environmentalists Win Halt to Missouri Flood Control Project

WASHINGTON, DC, September 17, 2007 (ENS) - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must stop construction on the St. John's Bayou/New Madrid Floodway Project in Missouri, a federal court in Washington ruled Friday. The controversial flood control project is located on the west bank of the Mississippi River in the "bootheel" of southeastern Missouri.

Judge James Robertson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia sided with two of the nation's largest nonprofit groups, Environmental Defense and the National Wildlife Federation, who filed the lawsuit in 2004 challenging the Corps' Environmental Impact Statements for the project.

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MMDA flood control project results in heavy traffic on EDSA
By DJ Yap
Inquirer
Last updated 05:56am (Mla time) 09/17/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- Though it was a Sunday, traffic crawled at a snail’s pace in some parts of EDSA (Epifanio delos Santos Avenue) Sunday as personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority dug holes on the sidewalk to lay drainage pipes in line with its flood control project.

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MMDA flood control project results in heavy traffic on EDSA
By DJ Yap
Inquirer
Last updated 05:56am (Mla time) 09/17/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- Though it was a Sunday, traffic crawled at a snail’s pace in some parts of EDSA (Epifanio delos Santos Avenue) Sunday as personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority dug holes on the sidewalk to lay drainage pipes in line with its flood control project.

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Expert team for flood studies at Mullaperiyar dam 8 Sep, 2007, 1530 hrs IST, IANS

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan has given the go ahead to construct a new dam at Mullaperiyar near the site of an 111-year-old dam on the border with Tamil Nadu, the state government has commissioned a team of experts to do flood studies in and around the old dam area. State Irrigation Minister N.K. Premachandran has said that a team of experts from the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee would arrive later this month to conduct flood routing studies. "The report is being prepared to present the facts on the ongoing case in the Supreme Court between Tamil Nadu and Kerala on the Mullaperiyar dam issue," said the minister. Flood routing studies is a highly specialised branch of engineering to measure the exact nature of floods. Full Story

Sustainable' flood defences call

The RSPB is seeking new ways to protect homes and wildlife

Thousands of homes could be spared flooding misery if a more sustainable approach to the problem is taken, nature campaigners have said.

RSPB Scotland wants ministers to move away from traditional flood defences, such as floodwalls and embankments.

The charity claims these merely move water downstream faster, creating flood problems elsewhere.

It wants "soft engineering" techniques, such as letting natural flood plains flood for the land to soak up water.

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Major Breakthrough on California Flood Protection Legislation

frankrusso-small.jpg By Frank D. Russo

There was a dramatic development on the California Assembly floor as that body without a single Republican vote passed two bills that are part of a five bill package on flood control. This is major legislation dealing with a very complicated set of policy decisions based on science, politics, pressure from various groups, and the need admitted by all that the state needs to do more to prevent or mitigate a Katrina like catastrophe occurring in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys, and other flood prone areas of the state.

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Flood panel reports gathering dust 6 Sep 2007, 0234 hrs IST,Dipak Mishra,TNN PATNA: Each time Bihar reels under heavy floods, the government sets up a technical committee to find out the reasons behind floods and make suggestions to put an end to the perennial problem. CM Nitish Kumar, too, seems to be following the trend. "The suggestions and solutions advocated by former committees have been put in the cold storage. What is the use of setting up a new committee when the suggestions made by the previous panels have not been implemented yet?" wondered former MLA Umadhar Prasad Singh. He said that Nilendu Sanyal, who heads the current technical committee, had already submitted a report in 1988 in this regard. Old-timers like Umadhar Prasad Singh appear convinced that technical committees constituted by the successive governments are merely an eyewash to show the government’s commitment towards solving the problem. The first technical committee formed in 1936 was headed by a British engineer, G S Hall. Interestingly, Hall, in his report, asked the government to desist from making embankments along rivers and warned that embankments would only add to the miseries of the people. The government overruled his views and went ahead with construction of embankments. The second technical committee was formed in 1954 on the advice of the Union government. It was headed by then chief engineer M Mathrani, who worked out a master plan to curb floods at the cost of Rs 25 crore. His report was never implemented. In 1987, yet another technical committee was formed under the leadership of Nilendu Sanyal. The committee submitted its report on April 4, 1988. Since then, the report seems to be gathering dust. In 2004, then water resources minister Jagdanand Singh formed yet another three-member technical committee for the purpose. This committee’s report, too, met the same fate. The current high-level technical committee headed by Nilendu Sanyal submitted its interim report to CM Nitish Kumar on Monday. The members of the committee included Padma Vibhushan Z Tarpore, former director of Pune-based Central Water Commission and Power Research Station; G S Poorva, chief engineer of Central Water Commission; M U Ghani, member, Ganga Flood Control Commission and director (planning) L P Singh. Sanyal is a retired engineer in-chief and special secretary. One hopes that this committee’s report does not meet the fate of earlier ones.

River Authority board reduces property tax rate for fiscal year

San Antonio Business Journal - 10:38 AM CDT Tuesday, September 4, 2007

The San Antonio River Authority's (SARA) board of directors adopted a maintenance and operations tax rate of .015 cents per $100 valuation.

The property tax rate affects residents of Bexar, Wilson, Karnes and Goliad counties. The rate is slightly lower than the previous year's rate.

The rate supports SARA's budget of $103 million for the 2007-2008 fiscal year, which was formally adopted on June 20.

Chairman Louis Rowe says the tax revenue can be used for all maintenance and operating activities, including maintenance of flood control structures throughout the San Antonio River basin, debris removal programs, water quality protection initiatives and the development of digital flood insurance rate maps.

"The San Antonio River Authority's tax rate is rather small as compared to other taxing entities, but without it, we would not be able to provide the critical services required to accomplish our mission throughout the basin," Rowe says.

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Residents call for flood measures

By Chris

Residents living in an Oxford housing complex who were evacuated during July's floods said simple measures - overlooked by planners - would have kept them in their homes.

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California Flood Policy Is Like...Gymnastics?

By Gary A. Patton
Executive Director
Planning and Conservation League

Negotiations are in full gear, primarily concerning the interim land use measures which would be put in place until a flood control plan for the Central Valley is completed in 2012. (These discussions principally affect AB 5 and SB 5.)

PCL staff member Jonas Minton is playing a key role in these negotiations. He is seeking to ensure that new flood policy incorporates wise land use into the flood control plan and provides complementary benefits to both public safety and the environment.

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MRC discusses ways to manage Mekong River resources

The Mekong River Commission (MRC) discussed a plan on developing the river's basin, fisheries, navigation, flood management and mitigation, irrigation, and watershed management, Laos' newspaper Vientiane Times reported Thursday.

Delegate to the 26th meeting of the MRC Joint Committee in Laos on Wednesday also touched upon a new drought management program, and hydrological conditions in the lower Mekong basin.

The meeting attended by representatives from four members of the MRC, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, and partner organizations, also discussed the MRC's achievements last year.

UK. Environment Agency Wales invites you to have your say on river systems in Wales

Friday, 31 August 2007

Environment Agency Wales is inviting people to have their say about the best ways to tackle major water environment issues across Wales to protect and improve rivers, lakes, ground and coastal waters.

Everyone is invited to give their opinion on the best ways to tackle issues such as pollution from urban and rural areas. Each River Basin District in Wales - the Dee, the Severn and Western Wales - has its own issues and can be commented upon individually.

The documents - titled River Basin Planning: Summary of Significant Water Management Issues - are an important step in creating better ways to achieve the standards of the European Water Framework Directive by 2015. Each consultation was put together by our Liaison Panels, groups of interested parties from sectors involved in the water environment.

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Needed: A 50-year flood plan

By Robert Bea
August 27, 2007

After two years, there's a lack coherent vision on how to provide adequate flood protection. The Army Corps of Engineers is doing 5,000 different things, one of which is flood protection. The state is even more muddled. You don't have modern technology; the quality is not what you would call world-class.

Money has been coming in dribs and drabs. Billions of dollars is big, but before you get adequate flood protection for New Orleans, you better start thinking about $50 billion to $100 billion, and 50 to 100 years to do it. The Netherlands had its Katrina in 1953, and it is still developing its system. It has expended about $50 billion. You don't have to be a professor to get it.

But we can see some strides going forward. Local citizens who want protection are now involved in getting that protection. There's a recognition that flood protection is not just a New Orleans problem, it's a national problem, it's a problem in our own Sacramento Delta; it extends to Kansas, Chicago. We've been watching it unfold across the U.S. last week.

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