The 84th meeting of the Brahmaputra Board, under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, was held on Friday at the Sonartari State Guest House in Agartala.
Chaired by Dr. Ranbir Singh, Chairman of the Brahmaputra Board, the meeting brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the eight northeastern states and the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) of North Bengal. Also present was Subodh Yadav, Additional Secretary of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Marking a significant milestone, this was the first time that representatives from the GTA participated in the discussions, signaling a push for broader regional cooperation in water management.
The meeting primarily focused on developing a comprehensive river basin master plan for the tributaries spanning Tripura, Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya.
Discussions also revolved around strengthening flood control measures and improving water resource management across the Brahmaputra basin.
A key agenda item was the formulation of a new river island policy for the Brahmaputra River, aimed at addressing environmental and institutional challenges associated with riverine islands.
Senior officials from the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, the Central Water Commission, the North Eastern Space Applications Centre, and the Brahmaputra Board actively participated in the deliberations.
The board emphasized the necessity of a coordinated approach between central and state authorities to ensure sustainable and effective water management in the region.
Stakeholders were urged to implement a strategic framework for addressing challenges such as river erosion, sediment removal, and flood mitigation.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Ranbir Singh highlighted the board’s ongoing efforts to develop and implement master plans for nine major river valleys under its jurisdiction.
He noted that at least 70 rivers in the region have been identified for targeted interventions.
He also announced that while master plans for the Gomati and Muhuri rivers in Tripura had already been approved, today’s meeting saw the approval of the master plan for the Feni River, marking another step forward in the region’s water management strategy. (Edited)
