For this monsoon, CWC revises its cycle of monitoring rivers

With monsoon playing truant in the last few years, Central Water Commission (CWC) has revised its 'Flood Preparedness Period' during which they monitor water level of inter-state rivers on an hourly basis to provide timely warning to districts.

The Commission plays a crucial role in issuing alerts to district administrations on any flood forecast during monsoon season, which helps the authorities to take quick measures such as evacuating people from vulnerable areas.

While the FPP for north, east and western states have been advanced and extended by over 30 days, it has been stretched till the year end for rivers flowing down southern India, a CWC notification said.

The FPP for the Brahmaputra basin, comprising the northeast region, has been revised between May 1 and October 31 this year from the existing May 15 to October 15 period.

As far as the river basins in northern and western states of India including Delhi are concerned, it has been decided to observe the FPP for five months from June 1 to October 31.

Earlier, the FPP for the Yamuna basin was fixed between July 1 and September 30.

In the southern states, Cauvery, Pennar and other rivers flowing south of the Krishna basin would be monitored extensively for seven months starting from June 1 till December 31.

"We monitor the water levels through our flood forecasting stations round the year three times every day. But the significance of Flood Preparedness Period is that the water levels are being observed on an hour-to-hour basis," CWC sources said.

"We disseminate flood forecast alerts to district administrations through various communication channels," the sources added.

A total number of 175 flood forecasting stations of CWC are located at various inter-state river basins across the country.