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ABSTRACT
Flood damage in the plains and tributaries of the Ganges is increasing as more people and structures crowd into these lands. Recent damage has been blamed on degraded watershed conditions in the Himalayan foothills. How ever, there is no scientific evidence to support such claims, and they are generating needless conflict at a time when relations between India and Nepal are delicate. Although improving watershed conditions and land use practices is essential to improving living conditions in the hills, we cannot expect such measures to alter the massive floods of the lowlands. A series of high dams on these rivers has been proposed to reduce flooding in Uttar Iradesh and Bihar. The severe risks associated with such projects requires careful balancing against any expected flood control benefits. The most promising large-scale engineering approach to lowland flooding could be groundwater management with the input of hydroelectricity from Nepal. Flood proofing and a transboundary flood forecasting and warning system could be the most effective strategies and could be carried out within a few years.