Recurring floods in Ganga,Yamuna, Ramganga, Gomti, Sharda, Ghagra, Rapti and Gandak rivers in Uttar Pradesh State annually affect about 2.7 million hectares, more than 21.1 million people and cause damages of INR 4.3 billions.
More than 30 percent of the total geographical area is flood-prone in 23 districts12 in the eastern, western and central regions of Uttar Pradesh State.
Recurrent floods are devastating to the State economy and undermine poverty alleviation efforts.
Floods not only affect lives, livelihoods, and productivity and security of existing investments, but are also a disincentive for additional investments.
Traditional efforts at flood management in the State have focused on hardware systems, mainly consisting of 2162 km. of marginal embankments,
13,825 km. drains, and 66 town protection works till 2008-09, providing protection to about 1.95 million ha at a total cost
of INR 21 billions. These flood control structures are constructed to then-prevailing standards and technology,
and not well maintained.
Despite the largely structural solutions that have been the focus of flood management in the past decades, the threat of floods remains as high as
ever to the economy and livelihoods in UP. The approach here would be developed in the context of a long-term flood
management strategy based on analysis and stakeholder inputs and that builds upon the wisdom of the substantial experience
and documentation that currently exists on the information, institutions, and investments required.
The paradigm shift from flood control to management underlines the need to balance the historical emphasis on hardware investments
such as embankments with software solutions such as improved flood forecasting and warning systems.
In this regard, Uttar Pradesh State can draw upon recent global advances in satellite-based climate and flood forecasting.