States to shell out more to implement flood management program

The Union Cabinet recently decided to extend the Flood Management Programme in the 12th Five Year Plan.

But while extending the scheme, aimed at helping states carry out flood protection works, the Cabinet in its October 17 meeting decided to reduce its share in the scheme.

In the 11th Five Year Plan, the central share was 90 per cent of the total cost for special category states and 75 per cent for other states.

But now the central share has been reduced to 70 per cent for special category states. The Centre and the states will now share 50 per cent of the cost of the scheme in case of general category states.

The special category states are the seven northeastern states, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

The logic behind reducing the central share, sources said, is that the state governments now have more funds to implement such programmes.

So far, no new work under the scheme has been sanctioned in the 12th Plan as the scheme was not approved.

The Ministry of Water Resources has been sanctioned Rs 10,000 crore in the 12th Plan for the scheme, though the Working Group on Water Resources had recommended Rs 16,000 crore for it.

Out of the Rs 10,000 crore sanctioned, Rs 3,900 crore will be utilised for spillover liabilities from the 11th Five Year Plan.

Sources said fresh guidelines to get works sanctioned under the scheme would be finalised shortly to help states apply for new projects.