Huge delay in completion of flood control projects in country: CAG

Tthere were discrepancies in execution of works like irregular award of work, splitting of tenders and payment of allowance at higher rates.
Assam Floods: Due to heavy rains, the tributaries of the river Brahmaputra overflowed causing floods in Assam.  The flood affected over 17 lakh people and also the animals in the National parks.  (Photo| AP)
Assam Floods: Due to heavy rains, the tributaries of the river Brahmaputra overflowed causing floods in Assam. The flood affected over 17 lakh people and also the animals in the National parks. (Photo| AP)

NEW DELHI: With Assam facing severe flood situation, a CAG report has found huge delays in completion of river management activities and works border areas projects which were long term solutions for the flood problems of Assam, north Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of the India report tabled in parliament Friday said there were discrepancies in execution of works like irregular award of work, splitting of tenders and payment of allowance at higher rates.

Highlighting the sorry state of affairs when it comes to dam management in the country, the report found that out of 4,862 large dams, emergency action plans or disaster management plans of only 349 (seven per cent) large dams had been prepared till March 2016. Further, only 231 (five per cent) large dams evolved operating procedure/manuals.

“Out of 17 states and union territories only two states had fully carried out the pre and post monsoon inspection of the dams, three states had carried out the inspections partially and remaining 12 States had not carried out these inspections.

Programme for maintenance of dams were not prepared and adequate funds were not provided to carry out structural/repair works,” it further said. While India is highly vulnerable to floods and out of the total geographical area of 329 million hectares, about 45.64 million hectares is flood prone, the CAG found that in eight out of 17 States and union territories, the flood management works were not taken up in an integrated manner covering entire river and tributary.

The report also cited from the report of the Working Group on Flood Control Management Programme for the XI Five Year Plan which found that on an average, every year, 7.55 million hectares of land is affected, 1,560 lives are lost and the damage caused to crops, houses and public utilities due to floods is estimated at Rs 1,805 crore.

Recommending the union water resources ministry keep strict vigilance on utilisation of funds by State governments, the central auditor asked the Centre to prepare a time bound action plan to accelerate the completion of all the long term river management activates and works

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