CHAIRMAN INVITED SUGGESTIONS FROM
THE MEMBER STATES FOR AN IMMINENT REVAMPING OF BRAHMAPUTRA BOARD
The 39th
meeting of the Brahmaputra Board which met here today, came out
with proposal for imminent revamping. The Chairman, Brahmaputra
Board, Shri M. K. Sharma presiding over Board’s meeting, exhorted
on the members present to come out with a blueprint to revamp
the existing Board to speed up implementation as the Board has
been working for past 20 years without completion of work for
which the cost of the projects is escalated. He outlined the measures
for revamping the whole system in his opening remarks as there
has been thrust from the PMO to refurbish the functioning of the
Brahmaputra Board. He further reviewed the present status of the
projects to check floods, erosion and silting of river of Brahmaputra
and its tributaries.
After pointing out
the mandate, the Chairman invited General Manager, Brahmaputra
Board including Secretary to spell out the constraint facing different
projects of Brahmaputra and Barak valley. The GM then initiated
the discussion itemwise as given in the Agenda note after confirmation
of the minutes of the 38th Board meeting held during
March, 2003. The status of the ongoing projects namely, Harrang
Drainage Development Scheme, Pagladiya Dam Project and Avulsion
of Brahmaputra at Dholla-Hatighuli were discussed and the Committee
was apprised of the position. The Chairman mentioned about the
Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) package of Pagladiya
Dam project which is being implemented by the Board. He stated
the reason for increase of the cost of Pagladiya Dam project and
mentioned that the rehabilitation package is being reviewed for
an overall socio-economic development of the people.
The Secretary,
Water Resources Department, Government of Assam participating
in the Board meeting objected to issuance of No-Objection Certificate
for implementation of the projects on the ground that the downstream
of the river flowing in that state causes floods, erosion and
silting. The Chairman immediately came out with a reply that it
is the responsibility of the state to take up these matters to
sort out the problem with other reparian states. Member from Assam
urged upon the Board to appoint a Director immediately to look
after the North Eastern Hydraulic Allied Research Institute (NEHARI).
Besides Assam,
Nagaland and other States participated in the discussion. Out
of the 21 members of the Board, majority of them were present
and the Chairman requested the member States to submit their suggestions
in writing within a fortnight to finalise the revamping of the
Board. All members present on the occasion expressed satisfaction
on the outcome of the discussion.
