LUCKNOW: In what could be one of the most needed measures to provide succor to flood victims every year in Uttar Pradesh, a state richly endowed with nearly 31 rivers, the state government has decided to construct 100 permanent flood relief shelters to house flood displaced residents.
The permanent flood shelters to be built by the government, would come up in 18 flood affected districts of West and Purvanchal regions. In one permanent shelter, nearly three thousand displaced residents would be able to get timely shelter during floods.
Reports revealed, the entire initiative would cost nearly Rs 622 crore to the state exchequer.
As per Relief Commissioner GS Naveen Kumar, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had issued instructions at a high level meeting recently for construction of permanent arrangements for relief in flood affected districts of UP.
Reports further revealed that a survey conducted by the Relief department to deal effectively with floods every year, identified 18 most flood effected districts in UP including Kheri, Badaun, Mau, Farrukhabad, Amroha, Bijnor, Barabanki, Azamgarh, Kannauj, Kasganj, Gonda, Kushinagar, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Sitapur and Unnao. The districts were selected for construction of permanent shelters for flood victims.
Over 2 lakh people residing in 702 villages in these districts were found to be the affected owing to annual floods. In the first phase, permanent flood shelters would come up at 10 places while in the second and third phase the same would be constructed at 45 each sensitive sites respectively.
According to reports of UP State Disaster Managements Authority (UPSDMA), out of the total 240.93 lakh hectares geographical area of the state, about 73.08 lakh hectares was flood prone. Also estimates of UP Irrigation department revealed that only 58.72 lakh hectare area could actually be protected. Official reports further revealed, up to March 2004, only 16.01 hectare land was actually flood protected. Eastern districts of the state as well as those situated in Terai region bordering Nepal were the most affected. Owing to floods, further revealed reports of UPSDMA, an average 26.89 lakh hectare land was affected annually, leading to an estimated loss of crops, livestock and houses to the tune of around Rs 432 crore annually.
It may be mentioned that nearly 31 rivers crisscrossed through Uttar Pradesh, many of which had their origin in Nepal and most of these flowed into Bihar besides in some cases to Madhya Pradesh also. 40 of the total 75 districts in UP were identified as flood prone districts.
