(vi) Extensive institutional strengthening by training the personnel at various

levels right from observations to data analysis and storage.

(vii) Standardisation of method of data collection, data validation and processing.
(viii) Construction of 248 site office buildings and 57 major buildings for the Sub-
Division Offices, Division Offices, Circle Offices and Regional Offices.
(ix) Development of data storage and dissemination software named WISDOM

3.2. FLOOD FORECASTING & WARNING SERVICES:

RBA has assessed that about 40 M ha area of the country is flood

prone. The 10th Plan Working Group has worked out this area as 45.64 M ha.
For techno-economic reason flood management measures wherever planned &
executed in our country have been only against floods of certain magnitude.
However, floods of higher magnitude do occur, creating havocs. Accordingly,
flood forecasting and warning system has been planned parallel to structural
measures of floods management to give an advance knowledge of incoming
floods, which plays an important role in reducing floods damage as also help
in better planning of rescue/relief operations. Floods forecast also helps in
optimum regulations of (multipurpose) reservoirs with or without floods
cushions in them.

Scientific Flood forecasting activities in India made a beginning in 1958

when the erstwhile Central Water & Power Commission (CW&PC) set up a
Flood Forecasting Unit (FFU) for issuing flood forecasts and Warnings of
incoming floods in the Yamuna for the National Capital, Delhi. This service has
since been expanded by CWC to cover almost all major flood prone interstate
river basins of India. At present, there are 166 flood forecasting sites, out of
which 139 are level forecasting and 27 are inflow forecasting sites on major
dam/barrages. It covers the 8 major river systems in the country, which
includes 65 river sub-basins. These pertain to 14 States viz. Andhra Pradesh,
Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya
Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh & West Bengal and
one Union territory Dadra & Nagar Haveli and the National Capital Territory of
Delhi.

On an average over 6000 forecasts are being issued every year by the
Central Water Commission during flood season. Normally, these forecasts are
issued for 12 to 48 hours in advance, depending upon the river terrain, the
locations of the flood forecasting sites and base stations. The hydrological
data is being observed at more than 700 Gauge and Gauge & Discharge sites,
and hydro-meteorological data for over 500 rain gauge stations and the same
is communicated through a network of more than 450 Wireless stations.
Synoptic weather situations, weather forecast/heavy rainfall warnings etc. are
also being collected from FMOs and incorporated as one of the parameters
such as river stage, discharge etc. while framing the flood forecast.

3.2.1 Flood Forecasting Performance During 2003:

During the flood season of 2003 (May to October), out of 139 level
forecasting sites, unprecedented flood situations, where the highest flood level
attained during the flood season exceeded their respective previous H.F.L.
were witnessed at 3 flood forecasting sites viz. at Ballia on the Ganga in the
Ballia District of Uttar Pradesh and Bhagalpur & Kahalgaon (earlier known as
Colgong) on the main river Ganga in the district of Bhagalpur in Bihar. In
addition to the unprecedented flood situations, peak flood levels at 2

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