Govt pushes for mandatory floodplain zoning law as only four states comply

The four states that have enacted such legislations are: Manipur, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and the erstwhile fammu Kashmir

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In a bid to improve flood management across India, the central government is contemplating making the enactment of floodplain zoning legislation a prerequisite for states to access funds under the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP). This move comes as only four states have complied with repeated reminders to implement such laws, according to officials from the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

The four states that have enacted floodplain zoning legislation are Manipur, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and the erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir.

However, even among these states, implementation remains incomplete. For instance, Manipur passed its legislation in 1978 but has yet to demarcate flood zones, while Rajasthan has not enforced its law. Uttarakhand stands out as the only state to have both enacted the law and undertaken groundwork by demarcating areas for regulated development or no development at all.