Implementation of Flood Protection Works in Himachal Pradesh: A Critique

Policy analysis at regional level in respect of water resource management or a facet of it, that is, flood protection in the present case, is necessitated because water related problems being experienced across the globe are not of identical nature. They are influenced by the diversities existing in geography, climate, socio-political setup, institutional capacities, and funding and investment capabilities. Flood protection works in the form of river channelisation are being conceptualized and implemented in Himachal Pradesh to tackle floods, the resultant socio-economic misery and for protecting and reclaiming valuable but limited agricultural land resource in this small North Indian hill state. This article critically analyses the implementation of one of the major flood protection projects of state namely the Swan River Flood Management and Integrated Land Development Project Phase-I and Phase-II in district Una (HP). The study is based on a review of the approved project proposal, and thence an analysis of its implementation on the basis of examining the funding, fund utilization pattern and the corresponding work progress. The study exhibits that while the project proposal rigorously applies theoretical textbook maxims, the work actually implemented has several loose ends, implying that there is much to be desired as far as effective project implementation is concerned. The paper provides an insight about the various facets of implementation of a water resource management related public project at the regional level in India.