GUWAHATI: Flood warning can now be issued before 72 hours in the Northeastern region especially in the flood prone state of Assam while a huge network of flood forecasting sites have been set up in the region.
The Chairman of Brahmaputra Board, Sanjay Kundu on Thursday said, “Major initiatives are being taken up by the Ministry of the Water Resources and Central Water Commission in the form of flood forecasting. The flood forecasting mechanisms are very robust. Now, they are able to give 72 hours pre-warning and there is a huge network of flood forecasting sites in the North East. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is also able to pre-position NDRF battalions and the State is also able to pre-position their assets for flood prevention.”
The 60th Standing Committee meeting of the Brahmaputra Board was held here on Thursday. The meeting was presided by the Chairman of the Board, Sanjay Kundu. P. M Scott, the Vice Chairman and other officials of the Board. The various activities of the Board like survey and investigation of multipurpose project and mini-micro projects, execution of anti-erosion and flood management scheme etc., among others were discussed in the meeting.
Kundu said, “This meeting is basically where the standing committee reviewsthe works undertaken by the Board in the previous year, and also the budgets and how we have spent it. We also draw our work plan for the next financial year. So, it is a review and action plan meeting. I am pleased to say that the projects that we have undertaken last year are near completion and the quality that we have ensured is very high. We also have a very strong plan prepared for the next year.”
Talking about the future work plans of the Board, Kundu further said, “There are drainage development schemes which are near completion; four of them are lined up. Then, there is a plan of raised platforms as the North East is flood-prone so it will be very effective. We are also taking up major projects up in Majuli where we are taking huge flood protection and erosion protection work.”