Thiruvananthapuram: In a bid to tackle recurring floods during the monsoon season, the Kerala government is planning to implement a scientific flood resilience programme based on recommendations by a team of experts from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) on Friday said the proposed ‘Kerala Flood Resilience Initiative’ is under consideration following the submission of a report by experts from IIT Roorkee, IIT Palakkad and IIIT Kottayam.
The expert team met Chief Minister V D Satheesan and presented a comprehensive roadmap for building a state-of-the-art flood resilience system using advanced technologies, the CMO said in a statement.
The proposed initiative aims to improve preparedness for extreme rainfall, urban flooding, riverine floods, landslides, and mudslides through a scientific and technology-driven approach.
AI-powered flood forecasting
According to the CMO, the project will use Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), remote sensing, hydrodynamic modelling and advanced rainfall forecasting systems to identify flood-prone areas in advance and issue more accurate warnings.
The IIT team also recommended that any desilting of rivers, lakes and backwaters should be undertaken only after a scientific assessment of its impact on water flow and the environment.
Government seeks feasibility report
Chief Minister Satheesan has directed the Water Resources Department and the Disaster Management Department to jointly examine the project's technical feasibility, financial implications and implementation framework.
The two departments have been asked to submit a detailed report within one month, following which the government will decide on the next steps for implementing the project.
The CMO said the initiative aims to create a comprehensive flood resilience mechanism that could serve as a model for the rest of the country by leveraging advanced technology.
Revenue Minister A P Anilkumar, Environment Minister Sunny Joseph, Agriculture Minister T Siddique, Water Resources Minister Mons Joseph and Chief Secretary Biswanath Sinha were among those who attended the high-level meeting.