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Module4-Disaster Management

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Module 4DM

Module4-Disaster Management

Uploaded by

Veena Naik
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Module 4

Flood and Drought


Water Wealth of India

 Water is one of the most important renewable natural resources for supporting life.
With the increasing population of India as well as its all-round development, the
utilization of water is also increasing at a fast pace. On an average, India receives
annual precipitation (including snowfall) of about 4000 km3 .

 India's water wealth is a complex issue, with a country that has a large amount of water
resources but also faces water scarcity:
Water resources

India has a large amount of water resources, including:


• Annual rainfall: India receives 4,000 cubic kilometers of precipitation annually, including
snowfall.
• Rivers: India has about 10,360 rivers and tributaries longer than 1.6 kilometers each. The
average annual flow in all the river basins in India is estimated to be 1,869 cubic
kilometers.
• Dams: India has built nearly 5,000 major or medium dams and barrages to store river
waters and enhance groundwater recharging.
Water scarcity:
However, India is among the most water-stressed countries in the world. India has 18% of the
world's population but only 4% of its water resources.
Water demand:
The demand for water in India is increasing due to population growth and economic
expansion. The water demand in the year 2000 was 634 cubic kilometers and it is likely to be
1093 cubic kilometers by the year 2025.
Groundwater:
India relies heavily on groundwater resources, which accounts for over 50 percent of the irrigated
area. However, groundwater resources are rapidly depleting.
Definition of Flood

 A flood is a natural disaster that occurs when water overflows and submerges land that is
usually dry.
 OR
 an overflow of a large amount of water beyond its normal limits, especially over what is
normally dry land.
• Riverine flooding: When water overflows from a stream channel into normally dry land.
• Coastal flooding: When water levels are higher than normal along the coast and in lakes or
reservoirs.
• Flash floods: When water ponds at or near the point where rain fell.
What is Central Water Commission?

 Central Water Commission (CWC) is India’s premier technical organization in water


resources. It is presently under the jurisdiction of the Union Ministry of Water Resources,
River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation. It is responsible for creating and
coordinating strategies for regulating, using, and conserving water resources nationwide.
These plans are for flood control, irrigation, navigation, drinking water supply, and power
development.
Shri Kushvinder Vohra: chief of Central Water Commission
Background Of Central Water Commission

 CWC was previously known as the Central Waterways, Irrigation, and Navigation
Commission, abbreviated as CWINC. The Government formed it in 1945 on the
recommendation of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Member (Labour) of the Viceroy’s Executive
Council. The founding of the CWINC is credited to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, who oversaw the
formation of the Commission by the then-Labour Department. He proposed and
advocated for such a technical body at the Centre and outlined its aims, organizational
structure, and agenda. The Department developed the final proposal for the foundation
of CWINC with the assistance of Rai Bahadur A.N. Khosla, the Consulting Engineer for
Irrigation.
Functions or role Of Central Water Commission
• Planning and Development: CWC formulates plans and policies for the country's
development, utilization, and conservation of water resources.
• Water Resources Assessment: It conducts hydrological surveys and studies to assess the
availability and distribution of water resources across different regions.
• Flood Forecasting: CWC is responsible for monitoring rainfall and river flow data to issue
timely flood forecasts and warnings, helping to minimize the damage caused by floods.
• Reservoir Operation: CWC manages the operation of major reservoirs, ensuring optimal
water storage and release to meet irrigation, drinking water, and power generation needs.
Functions or Role Of Central Water Commission
• River Management: CWC coordinates with state governments to regulate and control rivers'
interstate flow, resolving water-sharing disputes among states.
• Dam Safety: CWC carries out inspections and assessments to ensure dams' safety and
structural integrity, reducing the risk of failures and associated hazards.
• Hydrological Information System: It maintains a database of hydrological information, including
river flows, rainfall, and groundwater levels, which is essential for planning and decision-
making.
• International Cooperation: CWC represents India in negotiations and agreements on water
resources management with neighbouring countries, promoting bilateral and multilateral
cooperation.
• The Central Water Commission is vital in managing and regulating water resources, ensuring
sustainable utilization and minimizing the adverse impacts of floods and water-related
disasters.
Central Water Commission Wings
 The work of the Commission is handled by 3 wings namely,

• Designs and Research Wing (D&R),


• Water Planning and Projects Wing (WP&P), and,
• River Management Wing (RM).
Wing Responsibilities
Designs and Research Wing (D&R) •This wing is responsible for providing guidance in the planning,
preparation of layout studies, specifications, detailed designs and
drawings, and standardization of designs of river valley projects in the
country including hydrological studies for the projects, etc.
•The Wing is headed by an engineering officer designated as a
Member (D&R) with the ex-officio status of Additional Secretary to the
Government of India.
Water Planning and Projects Wing •This wing is responsible for dealing with matters related to National
(WP&P) Water Policy; overall planning and development of river basins
including integrated river basin planning and development,
monitoring of storage position of the important reservoirs; etc.
•The Wing is headed by an engineering officer designated as a
Member (WP&P) with the ex-officio status of Additional Secretary to
the Government of India.
•The wing comprises organizations headed by a Chief Engineer and
consists of various Directorates each headed by Directors.
River Management Wing (RM) •This wing is responsible for, the collection, compilation, storage, and
retrieval of hydrological and hydro-meteorological data including
water quality monitoring, formulation, and issue of flood forecast on
all major flood-prone rivers and inflow forecasts for selected
important reservoirs, etc.
•The Wing is headed by an engineering officer designated as a
Member (RM) with the ex-officio status of Additional Secretary to the
Government of India.

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