“We are going for a Cabinet approval for the next phase of the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme. For that, now the condition for any State to access resources under the FMBAP will be that the state must have enacted the Flood Plain Zoning Act. So, you will not get money if you have not enacted the Flood Plain Zoning Act,” the official said.The official said the ministry has made several other efforts to address these issues.”In May 2022, the Secretary of the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation wrote to state Chief Secretaries, urging them to enact appropriate legislation. In a meeting in January 2023, the Secretary emphasized the importance of flood plain zoning for comprehensive flood management and minimizing flood damage,” the official added.”The Ministry of Jal Shakti has been persistently urging states to take action. However, the progress remains limited to a few states. Water management, including flood management, is a state subject under the Constitution. States need to take proactive measures in this regard,” another official said.The legislation provided guidelines for flood zoning authorities, surveys, delineation of flood plain areas, notification of flood plain limits, restrictions on flood plain use, and provisions for compensation and removal of obstructions.
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