GUWAHATI, Feb 6: What is common to erosion and floods with the fastest cruise missile? The answer: Brahmaputra. The river synonymous with Assam was chosen when it came to naming the Brahmos missile; the second part of the name relates to the Moskva river near which the name was decided. Among the opening remarks of former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, the Brahmaputra found several references in his address and subsequent interaction with students.
Significantly, he revealed that the Brahmaputra should not be taken merely as a water resource but as �an economic proposition� which can transform lives for the better. He said that the river with a proper approach could emerge as a communication link to many places and also facilitate tourism.
Asked what should be the response to China�s attempt to constrict the headstream of the Brahmaputra, the former first citizen mentioned the river�s international status, but indicated the need to anticipate the problem and reinforce other access to water.
On erosion, he identified large-scale plantation as one of the ways where loss of land due to ravaging waters could be reduced. Building layers of vegetation would help in strengthening the banks and combat erosion, he said.
Dr Kalam pointed out that around 300 types of medicinal herbs and plants were known to exist in abundance in Assam with the Brahmaputra Valley itself having 150 varieties of herbs and plants of commercial value. It is estimated that only about 5-10 per cent of the plants and herbs are currently utilised and the rest hold a vast potential.
