The Centre is holding a one-day stakeholders’ workshop on flood forecasting services and flood management planning today, aimed at strengthening coordination between the Centre and the states.
The workshop is being organised by the Central Water Commission (CWC) under the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, and is focusing on existing and new flood forecasting initiatives, as well as guidelines for the preparation and appraisal of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for flood management.
According to officials, the exercise is intended to improve flood preparedness and encourage better use of the CWC’s forecasting and decision-support services by state governments, with support from other central agencies.
Flood-prone states are sharing their initiatives in flood forecasting and discussing ways to align them with CWC services to improve preparedness and response.
Technical sessions in the forenoon are covering the CWC’s capabilities, including short-range and seven-day advisory forecasts, inundation forecasting, integrated reservoir operation support, glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) monitoring, and new initiatives such as the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning, extended-range rainfall forecasts from the India Meteorological Department, and flash flood forecasting.
The afternoon session is focusing on guidelines for the preparation, submission and appraisal of DPRs for flood management and anti-erosion works, with an emphasis on improving project quality and ensuring timely clearances. Feedback from states will be used to revise the guidelines.
The workshop will conclude with a session chaired by CWC Chairman Anupam Prasad, outlining key takeaways and the way forward.
The event is being inaugurated by V.L. Kantha Rao, Secretary in the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, and is being attended by senior officials from the Centre and state governments.
— IANS
