Uttar Pradesh emerges as India's model state in flood management, protecting over 3.7 crore people

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a model state in flood safety and water management. The state has recorded a steady year-on-year rise in flood control projects, flood-protected areas and the number of people benefiting from these initiatives since 2017.

Between 2017-18 and 2025-26, a total of 1,950 flood control projects have been completed across flood-prone areas of eight major river basins - Ganga, Yamuna, Gandak, Sarayu, Ramganga, Rapti-Rohin, Son and Gomti. These projects have played a key role in reducing flood risks and improving water management across the state.

Since 2017, the state government has constructed 523 embankments covering a total length of 3,869 kilometres. These embankments have directly benefited more than 3.72 crore people and have also strengthened the state's irrigation system. This includes 19 extremely sensitive embankments spanning 464.92 km and 18 sensitive embankments covering 241.58 km.

According to the Irrigation and Water Resources Department, flood control efforts have expanded rapidly over the years.

• In 2017-18, 74 projects protected 0.65 lakh hectares
• In 2018-19, 111 projects increased protection to 1.88 lakh hectares benefiting 22.03 lakh people
• 151 projects in 2019-20 and 196 projects in 2020-21 protected 2.88 lakh and 5.01 lakh hectares, respectively
• In 2021-22, 167 projects doubled the flood-protected area to 10.90 lakh hectares helping 46.26 lakh people

Flood control work reached its highest level in 2023-24 when 362 projects provided protection to 10.79 lakh hectares and relief to 68.97 lakh people. In 2024-25, 321 projects secured 4.97 lakh hectares from floods.

In the ongoing financial year 2025-26, 285 projects have so far added 4.33 lakh hectares to flood-protected areas and provided safety to 55.69 lakh people. Overall, more than 3.72 crore people have directly benefited from flood control initiatives since 2017.

The government has prioritised anti-erosion and embankment protection works in flood-affected districts such as Ballia, Deoria, Gorakhpur, Siddharthnagar, Bahraich and Kushinagar, among others.

The Irrigation and Water Resources Department currently operates around 10,727 drainage projects, covering nearly 60,047 km across the state. To further strengthen flood management, new dredging works worth Rs 74.32 crore have been approved in Gonda, Bijnor, Hapur, Bahraich and Mirzapur for 2025-26.

Officials say the continuous increase in flood-protected areas and beneficiary population reflects the people-centric and accountable approach of the state government. These sustained efforts have positioned Uttar Pradesh as India's leading state in flood management and water safety.