A performance audit on the implementation of flood control measures in West Bengal by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has revealed lapses in planning, monitoring and the even quality of materials used in flood control works. West Bengal is one of the prime flood-prone areas in the country with 37,660 sq. km. which is 42% of the total geographical area that’s susceptible to floods. The report pointed out that during the period 2013-17, the value of damage caused by floods to crops, houses and public utilities was ₹43,997.27 crore, the average annual damages being ₹8,799.54, which is much higher than the all-India average of the last 60 years.
The audit report, which was tabled in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly last week, also refers to non-utilisation of funds for flood management. “As per the Budget Publications, I&WD [Irrigation and Waterways Department] could not spend ₹1,099.45 crore during 2013-14 to 2017-18, though provisions of the fund was made through the Revised Estimates (RE) of the State government. Despite availability of funds, 2,161 sq. km. of the total flood prone area of the State remained unprotected as per the Annual Flood Report 2017 of I&WD,” the report said.
The audit report refers to two major flood management schemes in West Bengal — the Kandi Master Plan (KMP) and the Kaliaghai-Kapaleswari-Baghai (KKB) project. The report said: “Progress of the work was not monitored effectively. It was observed that both the projects [KMP and KKB] were delayed and vulnerable areas remained prone to floods.. Monitoring mechanism through remote sensing techniques was not adopted for any schemes of Flood control.” The audit also points out that there is no system of real time compilation and dissemination of flood data in the I&WD, even though data on river water levels is collected on an hourly basis in the monsoon season.
