Floodplain Erosion and Displacement in Uttar Pradesh: The Need for Institutional Response and Policy Intervention

 Abstract: Floodplain erosion is one of the most persistent and under-recognized environmental challenges in India, especially in the northern states where major Himalayan rivers descend into the plains. In Uttar Pradesh, rivers such as the Ganga, Ghaghara, Sharda, and Rapti experience intense seasonal flows, leading to severe erosion of floodplains and riverbanks. Each year, significant tracts of fertile land are lost and thousands of households are displaced, leading to socio-economic distress and long-term livelihood insecurity. This paper investigates the scale and patterns of floodplain-erosion-induced displacement in Uttar Pradesh using secondary data, government reports, and field observations. It highlights critical gaps in existing institutional mechanisms, including early warning systems, relocation and resettlement policies, and interdepartmental coordination. Floodplains and riverbank erosion play a major role in socio-environmental changes. Findings of a social survey carried out on floodplain-erosion-hit displaced people between the afflux bunds of Sharda Barrage in Lakhimpur Kheri District are discussed in this paper. The study argues for a comprehensive institutional response combining proactive risk assessment, community-based adaptation, sustainable land management, and robust rehabilitation and compensation policies. The paper concludes with policy recommendations to improve governance, enhance resilience, and minimize displacement resulting from floodplain erosion in Uttar Pradesh.

Keywords: Floodplain erosion; Displacement; Uttar Pradesh; Institutional response; Policy intervention; Disaster risk reduction; Floodplain management; Rehabilitation and resettlement; Sustainable land management.