Assam govt to set up Rivers and Lakes Authority

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today asked the Environment & Forest Department to set up a Rivers and Lakes Authority for conservation and protection of water bodies in the state.
At a high level meeting to discuss the initiatives taken by the department for conservation of Bharalu and Kollong rivers, the two tributaries of Brahmaputra, Gogoi instructed officials to submit the proposal for constitution of the Authority at the earliest.
According to a government release, the officials apprised the Chief Minister about the steps taken by the Department and Pollution Control Board in engaging in consultants and getting Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared for submission to the National River Conservation Directorate under the Ministry of Environment & Forest.

"Some of the major schemes prepared in the DPR included unhindered water flow and setting up of decentralised water sewerage treatment plants (STPs) without causing inconvenience to the public," the release said.
The meeting also discussed about the steps taken to prevent solid waste disposal into the rivers through River Bank Solid Waste Management and creating public awareness campaigns to keep the Bharalu river, the lifeline of Guwahati, clean and refreshing.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary and Joint Secretary to the Environment & Forest Department, Chairman of the Pollution Control Board among others.