Raging river & more

India need take serious note of Canadian environmentalist Michael Buckley&’s observation in his book,Meltdown in Tibet: China&’s Reckless Destruction of Eco-system from the Highland of Tibet to the Deltas of Asia, (as reported in The Statesman) that “if large dams China is planning on rivers within Tibet begin operations, the Brahmaputra will never be the same again”. On the economical impact on Assam and Arunachal Pradesh that may be posed due to the construction of mega dams on the Brahmaputra and other rivers by China, Buckley says “the fragile eco-system is at risk”.

What needs to be stressed is Buckley&’s contention that “the Brahmaputra will never be the same again”. Which possibly means a drastic reduction in the river&’s capacity and flow. It is cause for serious concern for India and is also a wakeup call that something needs to be done to meet or counter such portentious circumstances.

The Brahmaputra is the life and soul of Assam and brings prosperity as well as destruction. Every year, people in the flood-prone areas resign themselves to monsoon madness and make no attempt at preventive measures. Every year the rampaging Brahmaputa and is tributaries claim lives, destroy cropland over large areas worth crores of rupees and displace thousands who are forced to depend on government relief until they are able to return and recuperate. Hundreds of helpless animals in Kaziranga National Park perish every year.

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As usual, depending on the magnitude of floods, the Prime Minister may undertake an aerial survey of the devastated areas, announce immediate aid from the natural calamity fund and promise more, depending on the assessments of the extent of damage by Central teams. All this is routine, but what follows is anyone&’s guess.

For one, floods cannot be prevented, but at least people in the flood-prone areas should be entitled to an early warning so that they can move to safer places. The Assam government&’s demand for a scientific study of the Brahmaputra, the settting up of an early warning system and information on rainfall, etc, in the higher reaches is still pending.

Over the years the state has seen the formation of the Central Flood Control Board as early as 1954. Several boards and commissions have followed and disappeared without making a mark. Then came the Brahmaputra Flood Control Board (1979), followed by the Brahmaputra Board (1984). There was a report yet again in 2004 that the Centre was planning to float a Brahmaputra River Authority to oversee recurring floods.

Not many were happy with the functioning of the Brahmaputra Board. Given this, the Modi government&’s move to rename and vitalise it is welcome. According to reports, it is likely to be called the Northeast Brahmaputra Basin Authority, encompassing all the seven states. Union minister for water resources Uma Bharti said in Guwahati last week, while attending the Brahmaputra Board meeting, that “I can declare with affirmation that the last board meeting took place in Guwahati, the next one will be held with a new name and concept and will be announced soon”.

Hopefully, the change will restore public confidence in the Board&’s ability to function effectively and deliver the goods.

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The expected has happened. Last week, a report said the Centre had announced that the completion of the Kaladin Multi-Model Project and the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, under the Union ministry of external affairs and which were to be ready in 2016, will be delayed by three years. The excuse being a drastic reduction in the budget of the MEA over the last few years. During his visit to Cambodia in 2012 to attend the Association of South East Asia Nations summit, UPA Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said that by 2016 people would be able to motor to Myanmar and Thailand when the trilateral highways was ready.

While the Kaladin project is to connect Kolkata with Myanmar&’s Sittwe port and further run up to Mizoram through river and road, the trilateral highway is to start from Moreh, (Manipur&’s border town) and end in Thailand. Some good news now: the much-awaited LumdingSilchar broad gauge link (construction started in 1996) is to be ready in another three months.

jbl@thestatesman.net

 

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