Centre Reclassifies Ganga Floodplain Into Three Flood‑Frequency Zones

Overview

• The Jal Shakti Ministry amended the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order and the change was published in the official Gazette on Aug. 10, 2026.
• The amendment defines an active floodplain inundated by a one‑in‑five‑year flood and creates a regulatory zone for one‑in‑five to one‑in‑25‑year floods and a warning zone for one‑in‑25 to one‑in‑100‑year floods.
• The order removes the phrase “construction‑free zone” from bank maintenance language and replaces it with requirements to reduce pollution sources and preserve natural groundwater recharge.
• The 2016 prohibition on permanent or temporary structures remains tied to the newly defined active floodplain, while the notification does not itself grant blanket permission for construction in the regulatory and warning zones.
• Officials say projects outside the active floodplain will need prior clearances and safeguards but implementation details remain unresolved and are likely to shape riverfront works, state planning, and ongoing NGT litigation.