Assam’s government, in collaboration with NESAC, has identified 206 wetlands across 17 districts for flood mitigation. The project, leveraging space technology, aims to reduce flood frequency and damage in the region.
Guwahati: In a significant move to address recurring flood challenges, the Assam government, in partnership with the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC), has identified 206 water bodies across 17 districts for a large-scale flood mitigation initiative. This plan uses cutting-edge space technology to enhance the state’s natural wetlands, aiming to alleviate the devastating impact of annual floods.Leveraging Space Technology for Flood Control:Assam is known for its vulnerability to frequent floods, which cause extensive damage to lives and property. In a bid to find a sustainable solution, NESAC conducted a detailed study using remote sensing tools to map the region’s wetlands, identifying key areas for intervention. The study focused on wetlands and oxbow lakes situated in flood-prone zones, particularly targeting low to medium-risk flood areas.The selected water bodies were chosen based on rigorous criteria: each covers more than 10 hectares, lies within 3.5 kilometers of flood-prone rivers, and has the potential for significant excavation and embankment work to improve floodwater storage capacity.Detailed Excavation and Expansion Plan:The identified wetlands span a total of 16,842 hectares and currently have the capacity to store 575 million cubic meters of floodwater. As part of the flood control strategy, these wetlands will be deepened by up to 2 meters and surrounded by embankments of similar height, effectively increasing their storage capacity to 1,291 million cubic meters. This enhancement is expected to reduce the frequency of floods in the affected areas by up to 80%, offering substantial relief to flood-affected communities.Broader Flood Management Strategy:In addition to enhancing the wetlands, the Assam government has outlined further measures to control flooding. These include the construction of check dams, treatment plans for upstream catchments, and large-scale water and land management projects designed for long-term flood resilience.This initiative highlights a unified approach between the Union and State governments, using science and advanced technology to tackle Assam’s perennial flood problem and offering hope for a future with reduced flood risks.
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