Govt nods for flood management policy

NEW DELHI: The government has agreed in principle to formulate a comprehensive policy on flood management, Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

"The Cabinet has agreed in principle to formulate a policy on flood management. This will help us prepare in advance and not wait till the monsoon," Minister for Water Resources Saif-ud-din Soz said.

Responding to a question on central grant for saline embankments in Orissa, the Minister said the country should leave the habit of waiting for the monsoon to prepare for floods.

He said floods in Assam and West Bengal and a few other states create distrubing situation for the whole of the country, and government is aware of the problem and is in the process of formulating a policy on it.

The Minister said Orissa has submitted a proposal amounting to Rs 190 crore for financial assistance for construction of saline embankments.

"The matter is under consideration of the government," he said.