The Ministry of Water Resources has constituted a committee to understand the possible causes of recent flood and land slides in the State of Uttarakhand that caused a considerable loss of life and property. The committee will be headed by Chairman, Ganga Flood Control Commission, Patna and will comprise of of representatives from Central Water Commission, India Meteorological Department and Ministry of Water Resources.
The committee will study various issues including the river bank erosion, the river draining systems, effect of sedimentation downstream and also the effectiveness of flood warning systems, the monitoring of lakes in the high altitudes including glacier lakes that could be a part of a more effective early warning system for flash floods. The committee has been asked to to finalize its recommendations in three weeks after visiting the field sites.
A decision to this effect was taken here today in a meeting of senior officers of the Ministry and Central Water Commission (CWC) taken by Union Water Resources Minister Shri Harish Rawat on various issues. It was felt that there is an immediate need to understand the possible causes thereof and to take measures in the light of lessons learnt. During the meeting the various functionaries of the Ministry of Water Resources, its attached and subordinate offices also resolved to donate one day’s salary in the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.