Centre redefines Ganga floodplain, drops ‘construction-free zone’ provision
The amendment removes the "construction-free zone" wording and instead says that the banks of the Ganga and its tributaries and their floodplains shall be maintained to reduce pollution sources and pressures, and preserve their natural groundwater recharge functions through necessary measures.
The Central government has revised the definition of the Ganga floodplain and introduced regulatory and warning zones based on flood return periods. The Jal Shakti Ministry issued a notification on August 7, which was published in the Gazette on August 10, amending the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016.
This amendment removes the "construction-free zone" provision and instead emphasizes maintaining the banks of the Ganga and its tributaries to reduce pollution and preserve natural groundwater recharge functions. The amendment defines the "active floodplain" as the area of the Ganga or its tributaries inundated during a one-in-five-year flood, with a regulatory zone for areas affected by one-in-five-year to one-in-25-year floods and a warning zone for areas affected by one-in-25-year to one-in-100-year floods.
Construction of permanent or temporary structures in these zones is not prohibited, but the amendment does not specify construction permissions or prohibitions. The definition of the flood plain remains largely the same as in the 2016 order, encompassing areas inundated by floods corresponding to the greatest flow or a once-in-100-year flood.
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