Photo Courtesy: nenow
Gangtok: The Indian government has expanded the operational reach of the Brahmaputra Board to include Sikkim and West Bengal. This announcement came during the 14th High-Powered Review Board meeting in Guwahati, where officials outlined plans to transform the organization into a technology-driven entity focused on river basin management, flood control, and long-term water governance.
Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil introduced the State Water Reforms Framework during the session. The initiative sets a target of 75 reform indicators for states and Union Territories, covering areas such as groundwater regulation, wastewater reuse, and floodplain zoning. Regarding the broader national goals, Patil noted that water security would play a central role in achieving the vision of "Viksit Bharat @2047" and emphasized that sustainable management requires strong governance, institutional reforms, and technology integration.
The Board is shifting toward digital governance by utilizing remote sensing, LiDAR, GIS, and hydrological modeling. Officials confirmed that masterplans are being developed for 76 river basins and sub-basins within the Brahmaputra and Barak systems. Alongside these technical upgrades, the government is restructuring the Board to improve transparency and enhance coordination with state governments in the Northeast.
Proposed improvements also include the revitalization of the North Eastern Hydraulic and Allied Research Institute and the modernization of the Brahmaputra Board office in Guwahati. Furthermore, the meeting showcased indigenous water conservation methods, such as Assam’s Dong irrigation system and Meghalaya’s bamboo drip irrigation. States have until the end of 2026 to implement these reforms, with final benchmarking responses due by January 2027.
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