Flood management in India: A focussed review on the current status and future challenges

Despite massive investments and continuous flood-control efforts in India, the socio-economic damages and death toll continue to remain high. Undoubtedly, the process of flood management in India is very complex due to the influence of several socio-hydroclimatological factors, such as climate change, sea level rise, and socioeconomic dynamics. While these factors influence the intensity and frequency of flood events, factors explicitly related to the process of flood management, such as the improper execution of traditional structural measures, the lack of the proper implementation of schemes, lackadaisical execution of traditional structural measures and end-to-end management of the flood management programs/practices, ensure only partial protection. This review article identifies the region-specific flood problems in India and discusses the initiatives undertaken by major Indian flood management agencies, with an emphasis on the current ongoing flood management practices. The effectiveness of these practices in the long term is discussed, and specific gaps are identified. The recommendations provided in this article may be useful to guide stakeholders and policymakers in formulating and implementing sustainable flood management plans for improved flood resilience.