Parliament Question: Flood Management in Jorhat District of Assam

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *277 ANSWERED ON 06.08.2026 FLOOD MANAGEMENT IN JORHAT DISTRICT OF ASSAM *277. Shri GAURAV GOGOI:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Union Government has taken note of the recurring floods in Jorhat district of Assam and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the measures taken by the Union Government in coordination with the State Government of Assam to ensure availability of safe drinking water in flood- affected areas including emergency water supply and testing and treatment of contaminated water sources; and

(c) whether the Government has assessed the adequacy of existing flood control and anti-erosion measures in Jorhat district in view of the recurring floods and if so, the details thereof along with the corrective measures proposed to be taken in this regard? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI (SHRI C R PATIL)

(a) to (c) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

1STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. *277 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2026 IN LOK SABHA REGARDING “FLOOD MANAGEMENT IN JORHAT DISTRICT OF ASSAM”

(a) to (c) Jorhat district in Assam experiences recurring floods of varying magnitudes almost every year.

Flood management, including anti-erosion schemes, and schemes for the supply of safe drinking water in flood affected areas are formulated and implemented by the concerned State Governments as per their priorities.

Government of India supplements the efforts if the State Governments by providing technical guidance and promotional financial assistance.

The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) is being implemented, in partnership with the States to provide potable tap water supply of prescribed quality and on regular & long-term basis to every rural household in the country. The JJM 2.0 Operational Guidelines envisage the provisions for addressing drinking water supply during natural calamities and disasters, and stipulates that:

i. States/Union Territories integrate climate-resilient measures, including source diversification, aquifer recharge and local storage systems. Each scheme has an emergency continuity plan to ensure uninterrupted water supply during droughts, floods and other disruptions.

ii. During emergencies and disasters, the Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance framework under Jal Jeevan Mission is activated on a priority basis to ensure the continued safety of drinking water supplies. States and implementing agencies undertake immediate risk assessment of water sources and infrastructure, with enhanced frequency of water quality testing, particularly for bacteriological contamination. Disinfection measures, including chlorination are ensured at all supply points and alternate safe water arrangements are made where contamination is 2detected or anticipated including areas where the sources and/or supply systems are defunct due to disaster. Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) are mobilized for community-level surveillance and reporting, while District and State laboratories operate in a mission mode for rapid testing and response. Timely dissemination of advisories to the public regarding safe water handling and usage are ensured to prevent water-borne diseases.

iii. States utilize National and State Disaster Response Funds to restore water supply infrastructure damaged by natural calamities or internal disturbances.

Five flood management projects of the Government of Assam have been included under Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP), in Jorhat district and central assistance of Rs 3,430.11 Lakh has been released.

Further, Brahmaputra Board, under the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has prepared Master Plans of Brahmaputra Main Stem, Bhogdoi, Jhanji, Dhansiri, benefiting Jorhat district, among others, and inter-alia, include both structural and non-structural measures for flood management over the short, medium and long term basis.

The Central Water Commission also maintains 32 Flood Forecasting Stations (30 Level Forecast Stations and 2 Inflow Forecast Stations) in Assam, of which one Flood Forecasting Station, namely Neamatighat, is located on the Brahmaputra River in Jorhat District.

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