Amit Shah releases Flood Hazard Zonation Atlas
Guwahati,Rongili Barta- Shri Amit Shah, Hon’ble Minister of Home Affairs & Minister ofCooperation, Govt. of India released the Flood Hazard Zonation Atlas of Assaminpresence of Dr Prakash Chauhan, Director, National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), thesenior delegates of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) andReliefCommissioners of Assam and other States of the country during the Annual ConferenceofRelief Commissioners/Secretaries of Disaster Management and State Disaster ResponseForces (SDRFs), Civil Defence, Home Guards & Fire Services of States/ UTs- 2025 at VigyanBhawan, New Delhi.
The 3rd version of the Flood Hazard Zonation Atlas has been prepared by NRSC/ISROonrequest from Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) using satelitedatafrom 1998 to 2023. Assam as one of the worst flood affected states in the country, ISROhas been providing extensive space based support to the AssamGovt. in Disaster Management from time to time. NRSC/ISRO released the first version of the Atlas for Assamin 2011, and was updated in 2015.
The Atlas aims to provide the analysis of Satellite derived flood inundation layersduring1998-2023, generation of flood frequency map, flood hazard zonation categories, floodhazard zonation map at state/district level, list of flood hazard categories at villagelevel which would provide an overall scenario of the flood situation in AssamState, satellite- derived information in the last 26 years, cumulative flood inundation area and frequencyat 50 x 50m pixel grid, trends in river rise in monsoon seasons, no. of peaks, general landuseat district level etc.
About 400 satellite images (optical and microwave) acquired, covering variousfloodmagnitudes in Assam State, were thoroughly analyzed in generating flood hazard maps. Thisis instrumental in controlling the developmental activities in flood-prone areasandconstructing relief, rescue, and healthcare facilities. The study included the analysis of floodfrequency, flood inundation areas at administrative levels (district, village), water level observations obtained from Central Water Commission for identified river gauge sitesalongthe main Brahmaputra river and its tributaries.
The flood hazard zonation maps have undergone validation process on-site by ASDMA. The validation process was carried out through its district/circle offices, and the valuableinformation obtained from field validation has been integrated into the Atlas. The Atlaswill be available in the ASDMA website for the benifit of the public and for the district administration for effective planning and decison making.