Centre has constituted multi-sectoral team to study rise in cloudbursts, landslides in Himachal: Nityanand Rai
New Delhi, August 11
Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai on Tuesday said the Centre has constituted a Multi-Sectoral Central Team to scientifically assess the increasing frequency and intensity of cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides and extreme rainfall events in Himachal Pradesh.
Responding to a question by BJP MP Rajeev Bharadwaj in the Lok Sabha, Rai said in a written reply that the team comprises experts from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indore and other concerned agencies.
"In view of the increasing frequency and intensity of incidents of cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides and extreme rainfall in Himachal Pradesh, a Multi-Sectoral Central Team (MSCT) has been constituted," Rai said.
He said inputs from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Central Water Commission (CWC) and Geological Survey of India (GSI) have also been incorporated into the assessment.
According to the Minister, the team has been tasked with undertaking a scientific assessment of the causes behind increasing extreme weather events in the state, analysing geographical and ground conditions in the worst-affected areas, examining data received from various agencies and recommending long-term measures to minimise the impact of such disasters.
Rai said assessments by weather experts, scientific institutions and state authorities indicate that climate change is contributing to an increase in the intensity and frequency of extreme rainfall events in the Himalayan region.
"Assessments provided by weather experts, scientific institutions and State authorities indicate that, as a consequence of climate change, the intensity and frequency of extreme rainfall events are increasing in the Himalayan region," he said.
He further said accelerated snowmelt and moraine instability contribute to off-season slope failures and high runoff in high-altitude zones.
The response comes amid growing concerns over extreme weather events in Himachal Pradesh and other Himalayan states, where cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides have caused significant damage to infrastructure and affected communities.
In another response, Rai said 1,954 villages across 15 states and two Union Territories have been identified for comprehensive development under the Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II).
He said 184 villages in Rajasthan have been selected under the programme, including 66 villages in Barmer and Jaisalmer districts.
The Centre has approved VVP-II as a Central Sector Scheme with a total outlay of Rs 6,839 crore till the financial year 2028-29. The programme focuses on livelihood generation, road connectivity, energisation, village infrastructure, healthcare, financial inclusion, youth skill development, tourism, education and telecom connectivity.
Rai also informed the Lok Sabha that the Centre has approved the Urban Flood Risk Management Programme (UFRMP) for 18 cities under its two phases.
Phase-I covers Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune with a financial outlay of Rs 3,075.65 crore, while Phase-II covers 11 cities, including Jaipur, Lucknow, Patna, Guwahati, Indore and Thiruvananthapuram, with an outlay of Rs 2,444.42 crore.
"The projects being implemented under UFRMP are expected to significantly improve stormwater conveyance, reduce flooding and waterlogging, enhance road connectivity, and increase the resilience of the drainage network in the cities," Rai said.
He added that the NDMA has prepared a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the programme and periodic meetings are being held to review implementation.
Rai also said that 238 Acts enacted by Punjab and seven Acts enacted by Haryana are presently applicable in Chandigarh. He further clarified that no proposal is currently under consideration to constitute a Development or Advisory Territorial Council in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good initiative but I wish they'd involve local communities too. The people living in these areas know the terrain better than any expert sitting in IIT Indore. Also, what about proper compensation for families who lost their homes? The scientific study is fine, but implementation on ground matters more.
Climate change is real and it's affecting the Himalayas at an alarming rate. As someone who grew up in Himachal and now lives abroad, I can see the difference in weather patterns over the last 20 years. Good to see the Indian government acknowledging this scientifically. The Vibrant Villages Programme is also a smart move to develop border areas.
Every monsoon, same story - Himachal, Uttarakhand, Kerala get devastated by floods and landslides. We keep forming committees and study teams, but where's the long-term planning? 💬 The ₹6,839 crore for Vibrant Villages is good, but we also need to invest more in disaster-resilient infrastructure in the mountains. Roads that get washed away every year are not infrastructure.
I'm happy to see NDMA and IITs involved, but can we also discuss why the Himalayan region is so vulnerable? Unplanned construction, hydroelectric projects, and deforestation are big factors. Hopefully the team will look at these root causes and not just the weather aspect. Also, a request - please ensure findings are made public and not just gathering dust in some ministry file. 🌏
1,954 villages under Vibrant
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.