Assam wants restructuring of Brahmaputra Board

Sets up North-East Brahmaputra River Rejuvenation Authority

Assam has asked the Centre to soon revamp Brahmaputra Board and set up North-East Brahmaputra River Rejuvenation Authority (NEBRRA). Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi feels setting up of NEBRRA will help the region and state to arrive at "comprehensive water resources development and evolve strategies and interventions for harnessing the water resources of the mighty Brahmaputra river".

Union water resources minister Uma Bharti had said her ministry would introduce a bill the coming session of the Parliament for restructuring of Brahmaputra Board. The move to restructure the Brahmaputra Board into the NEBRRA comes in the wake of Northeastern states expressing their dissatisfaction over the functioning of the Brahmaputra Board and sought revamping it. Bharti said the purpose of restructuring Brahamaputra Board by setting up NEBRRA was to improve the efficiency of the Board and its functioning to control floods, erosion and landslides caused by the river and its tributary in Northeastern region.

She said a meeting of all chief ministers of Northeastern states would be called very soon, while chairing the 8th meeting of 'High Powered Review' on Brahmaputra Board.

Gogoi said the Assam government had received the draft document on NEBRRA and views of the state government on proposed body have already been sent to the Centre. He said only "expeditious" sanctions for the flood management project of Assam could solve the vexed problem of flood and soil erosion on account of embankment cutting by fast flowing rivers in the state.

Bharti said the "overall intention" was to fast track the all-around development of the region by way of augmenting the flood control measures, enhanced power production and storage capacity building. The Union minister also agreed that the share of funds between the Northeast region and central government should be on the ratio of 90:10 basis and not 70:30. She also assured Northeastern states that their concerns and apprehensions would be conveyed to the Union finance ministry as well as Niti Ayog and said all out efforts would be made by her ministry in this regard.

The Brahmaputra Board was set up by an act of Parliament - Brahmaputra Board Act, 1980. It started functioning with headquarters in Guwahati with effect from January 1982.

The main objective was planning and integrated implementation of measures for control of flood and bank erosion in the Brahmaputra Valley and for matters connected therewith in association with concerned states. The jurisdiction of the Board includes the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and Northern part of West Bengal.