"This was already our mandate for the 11th Plan, but now I am confident that the Planning Commission will provide the funds needed as soon as possible," said Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz. The Ministry is working on a blueprint for the committee whose mandate will include survey, mapping of areas, constructing embankments, bunds and preventing soil erosion. "Right now, we are just spectators when floods hit the country," said Soz.

Out of the country's total geographical area of 329 m.ha. about 40 m.ha. of area is prone to floods. The Government claims it has provided 16.46 m.ha with a reasonable degree of protection against floods by construction of embankments, drainage channels and town protection works. As in these floods, it has been proven time and again that these measures have never really helped. In Bihar alone, nearly 25 embankments were breached, causing sudden floods in thousands of villages.

At present, the Central Water Commission is providing assistance to the flood prone states to take up flood mitigation measures. A flood forecasting and warning system was established by the CWC on interstate river basins and flood forecasts are being issued through 173 stations. But it only gives the water level that is expected to rise and the volume of reservoirs 24 hours in advance.

Since flood is a state subject, the Centre so far has just an advisory role. By the time the information is made available to the states, it is already too late to take action. After the disaster becomes a crisis, the Ministry of Home Affairs swings into action with its control room to provide logistics for relief and rehabilitation.

There is a gaping hole as far as taking precautionary measures are concerned. According to an estimate, it is 100 times more expensive to undertake relief work than ensure preparatory measures. The commission will also use more advanced warning systems to forewarn and to sharpen their alarm systems.