NEW DELHI, Nov 28 - The Centre is still awaiting the comments from the northeastern states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura on a revised draft Bill to constitute a body named Brahmaputra Barak North-East River Development Corporation (BBNERDC).
After incorporating all the viewpoints of the state governments and stakeholders, a draft North-East Brahmaputra River Rejuvenation Authority (NEBRRA) Bill was prepared. The draft Bill on NEBRRA was circulated to all stakeholders on February 23, 2015 for their comments.
Thereafter, a decision was taken to form a corporation in place of earlier proposed structure of NEBRRA. Accordingly, a revised Bill was drafted to constitute the BBNERDC and it was circulated to all northeastern states, West Bengal, stakeholders, ministries and organisations for their comments on June 8, 2016.
Stating this in reply to a Rajya Sabha question by Ranee Narah, Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Uma Bharti said that in 2012, a policy document on restructuring of the Brahmaputra Board into a basin authority was circulated to all the northeastern states and West Bengal for their comments and views.
All the northeastern states and West Bengal agreed to the concept note. Arunachal Pradesh while agreeing to the policy document expressed some apprehensions, which were replied to by the ministry. The policy document detailed the structure for the basin organisation.