Breaches in embankments aggravating the problem of inundation in the current and past flood situations in Assam is a pointer of limitation of structural measures of flood mitigation if timely maintenance and repair works are not undertaken. Prioritising non-structural measures such as flood plain zoning, flood forecasting and warning; rescue and recovery and shelter is a pragmatic response for flood mitigation. Most of the embankments in the state - 295 out of 423- have outlived their life spans and are prone to breaches at multiple locations. Majority of these embankments were constructed in the 1960-70 period and can provide protection to only about 52% of total flood-prone areas in the state if maintained and repaired to withstand new waves of flood. New settlements in rest of 48% along the floodplains of the Brahmaputra or the Barak and their tributaries not covered by existing embankments are fully dependent on non-structural mitigation measures. This also explains why the number of flood affected population in the state has recorded a gradual increase, raising the expenditures for rescue, relief and rehabilitation. Siltation causing river bed of the Brahmaputra to become shallow and the river flowing at higher level most of the period obstructs free discharges of its tributaries and backflows entering through the confluence cause inundation of flood plains of the tributaries. The clamour for more embankment protection has grown but these structures requiring huge expenditures paucity of fund has been posing a bottleneck. This brings into focus the issue of non-structural measure of marking the floodplain zones to prevent settlements on flood prone areas into the policy discourse. The Model Bill for Flood Plain Zoning, 1975 circulated by the Central Water Commission to all states 48 years ago defines ‘flood plain zoning’ as retracting any human activity in the flood plains of a river where the plains are created by overflow of water from the channels of rivers and streams. Till date only Manipur, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and undivided Jammu and Kashmir have enacted the legislation but delineation and demarcation of flood plains is yet to be undertaken in any state. Assam, continuing to be figuring among states that are yet to enact the legislation, is indicative of this non-structural measure not being considered as a priority in flood mitigation strategy and over dependence on structural measures of embankment repair and maintenance. Resettlement and relocation of huge population already settled on the flood plain not covered by embankment protection is a monumental challenge. Apart from the issue of availability land for both homestead and farming closer to existing settlements, payment of compensation for their rehabilitation involves huge expenditures. The one time expenditure of relocation needs to be weighed against rising recurring expenditure incurred in rescue, relief and rehabilitation in multiple waves of flood to arrive at a rationale decision. Cascading impact of multiple displacements, loss of standing crops and loss of livelihoods due to recurring waves of flood and river bank erosion on the state economy also needs to be taken into account while considering the trade off between restricting and regulating building structures on flood plains and construction of new embankment for flood mitigation of these settlements. Climate change impact resulting in increase in extreme weather events such as large excess rain or long spell of hot and dry season in areas have already precipitated the situation. This has triggered apprehension of food security in the state in the longer term if the state fails to adopt climate resilient farming and improved flood mitigation. While the flood plain zoning is a long overdue, the state government initiating stakeholder consultations on the draft model bill will be useful in identification of challenges and exploring solutions which are mix of structural and non-structural measures. Enactment of legislation on flood plain zoning will provide legal framework to the state government or the flood plain zoning authority to be constituted to prevent fresh encroachment of flood plains. Awareness drive among people as to how their lives and livelihoods could be perpetually in danger due to settlement on flood plains will be effective only when these are notified and clearly demarcated. Publication of flood risk maps has become an urgent necessity for the state ravaged by multiple waves. In the short term, further improvement in flood early warning systems can improve flood preparedness and aiding people in vulnerable areas shifting to safer places well in time. Faster dissemination of information using social media networks apart from traditional channels of communication is required. Designs of concrete multi-storied market buildings, in affected villages and urban settlements can be improved with adequate provisions for safe drinking water and toilet facilities kitchen space and used as shelters for affected population during the high flood days. Providing policy push for non-structural mitigation, including flood plain zoning is the need of the hour.