Brahmaputra Board drafts master plans to tackle floods, erosion in NE

Brahmaputra Board is drawing up and updating master plans for 15 river sub-basins across the northeast using “state-of-the-art” technology to find long-term solutions for the region’s chronic flood and erosion challenges, officials said.
In June this year, devastating floods and landslides battered North East, leaving lakhs affected across Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, Tripura and Manipur. Record-breaking rainfall breached embankments and triggered flash floods. Silchar received 415.8 mm rainfall in a day and Mizoram alone witnessed more than 600 landslides, according to media reports. “The Board has been actively engaged in preparing Master Plans, developing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), monitoring Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP) schemes, and executing anti-erosion, flood control and drainage works,” a senior official said.
The sub-basins under focus include Dikhow and Jhanji (Nagaland and Assam), Dikrong (Arunachal Pradesh and Assam), Kolodyne and Tuichang (Mizoram), and 10 rivers across Meghalaya, including Kynshi, Umngot and Simsang. Officials said the plans aim to mitigate floods and erosion while promoting holistic water management.
A special committee with representatives from state governments, CWC, NESAC, Survey of India, GSI and academic institutions is steering the process. Future master plans have also been proposed for major rivers such as Sankosh-Raidak, Teesta, Kopili, Dhansiri (North), Feni, Muhuri and Gumti.