Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Union Minister for Jal Shakti CR Patil chaired the 14th meeting of the High-Powered Review Board of the Brahmaputra Board in Guwahati on May 19. The session focused on critical issues including river basin management, long-term water governance reforms, and strategies to mitigate flood and erosion risks across the Northeast. The meeting included participation from Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary, along with various state officials and technical experts.
A major highlight of the event was the launch of the State Water Reforms Framework, a national initiative designed to promote benchmarking and cooperative federalism in the water sector. This framework evaluates states across 75 indicators covering five key areas: policy and regulation, project monitoring, infrastructure, community engagement, and research digitalization. Minister Patil emphasized that achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 requires a holistic approach combining policy reforms, technological innovation, and community-led conservation efforts.
During the board review, officials reported that masterplans are currently being developed for 76 river basins and sub-basins within the Brahmaputra and Barak systems. This effort utilizes advanced technologies such as LiDAR, GIS, remote sensing, and hydrological modelling. Coordination with the governments of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Tripura is ongoing to streamline flood management, drainage, and conservation projects.
The board also deliberated on transforming the Brahmaputra Board into a modern, technology-driven River Basin Organization. Key proposals included restructuring technical units, upgrading the North Eastern Hydraulic and Allied Research Institute to improve regional research capabilities, and redeveloping the Basistha office complex into a modern institutional campus. To celebrate indigenous knowledge, the event featured the release of several books and documentaries highlighting traditional practices such as bamboo drip irrigation in Meghalaya and the Dong irrigation system in Assam.
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