Brahmaputra Board to be revamped and rechristened: Bharti

Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti today announced revamping and rechristening of the Brahmaputra Board to improve its efficiency and functioning to control floods, erosion and landslides caused by the river and its tributary in the north east.
Bharti, who chaired the high powered review board of the three decade-old body said the decision was taken in view of its 'ineffectiveness' to adapt to the changes in policies and technology that have taken place in the last 30 years.
"We have to make it more effective. The board was formed in 1980, technology has changed so fast within the intervening 30 years. Whole approach has to be faster, more technical and more practical," she said.

"I can declare with affirmation that today is the last meeting of the Brahmaputra Board. The next meeting will be held with a new name and new concept which will be announced within a few weeks' time in consultation with the concerned ministries and all the states concerned," she told reporters.
Views of each concerned state would be incorporated. "After taking the views, we will sit and again take every state in consideration and we will come with an announcement of new name and fast tracking policies," she said.
The board, an autonomous statutory body, was set up under Brahmaputra Board Act in 1980 and was mandated to prepare a master plan for the control of floods and bank erosion and improvement of drainage in the Brahmaputra and Barak valley area covering almost all the eight north eastern states.

As the board was formed by an act of Parliament, she said some changes can be made within the ministry and some have to go through the cabinet.
Bharti welcomed the suggestion by Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on the need to have a river basin management in Brahmaputra and its tributaries as many people were dependent on the river, including in West Bengal, and had to face the problems of flood, erosion, landslide and siltation.