Guwahati: Assam government has decided to constitute an expert committee to be sent to China for studying the Yellow River (Huwang He) Management Strategies and prepare a road map to stop flood and erosion caused by the Brahmaputra river here.
Chairing a high-level review meeting of the Water Resources Department, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, “If the Yellow River, which was once considered as ‘sorrow of China’ can be tamed, the Brahmaputra which is the lifeline of the people Assam, can also be used productively to serve the riparian rights of the people of the state.”
“The ‘knowledge-driven’ study in association with the World Bank would also prepare a road map for taming the Brahmaputra and its tributaries to control flood and erosion,” he said. The study would encompass basin characteristics, river engineering, hydrology, channel morphology and floodplain evolution, Sonowal said.
“Water is the source of all energies and the Brahmaputra, which has gifted Assam with abundance of water, will be used by the government to propel the state’s development,” he said.
Emphasising on the need for a well-coordinated document for the rivers in Assam, the Chief Minister directed the department to prepare a ‘River Atlas’ and use the expertise of North Eastern Space Applications Centre for the purpose.
Considering the importance of rivers for the people, culture and economy of Assam, Sonowal exhorted the need for transforming the Assam Water Resources Management Institute into an ‘institute of excellence’ and undertake extensive studies for optimum utilisation of rivers. He told the department to work on an early flood warning system in line with the one put in place for Tsunami.
The Chief Minister also reviewed several on-going schemes of the department, particularly erosion protection works being undertaken in his home constituency Majuli and other parts of the state, and assured all help for early completion of those.
State Water Resources Minister Keshab Mahanta, Chief Secretary Vinod Kumar Pipersenia, Additional Chief Secretary, Water Resources R Jindal, Principal Secretary, Water Resources Hemanta Narzary, Commissioner and Secretary K K Dwivedi were present at the meeting. (PTI)
