File Photo: Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti. (Press Trust of India)
As many as 176 flood forecasting stations have been set up across the country where predictions are made during every monsoon whenever the water level exceeds limits, Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti said today.
She told Lok Sabha that Central Water Commission (CWC) under her Ministry carries out the activity of flood forecasting in the country on major rivers and their tributaries.
"It (Ministry) has set up 176 flood forecasting stations in the country where flood forecasts are issued in every monsoon whenever water level or the inflow in a rivers exceeds the predefined criteria," she said during question hour.
The Minister said the meteorological inputs based on remote sensing technology received from India Meteorological Department are used in rainfall-runoff modeling.
The remote sensing technology and geographical information system have been used by CWC for preparation of inventory of glacial lakes/ water bodies in Himalayan region of Indian rivers with water spread area of more than 10 hectare using satellite imageries.
"The National Remote Sensing Centre, Hyderabad under the Department of Space provides near real time satellite based flood inundation maps at their official website using data of mainly Indian satellite," she said.