KOLKATA, Nov 6 - Unavailability of data stretching back to 10 years has prevented the North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR) to undertake any study on floods in the Brahmaputra river basin.
NECTAR has focused on technologies for real time monitoring of rivers with a decision support system for real-time forecasting of floods. Based upon rainfall gauge data and satellite grid data, rainfall trend for each catchment and sub-catchment are analysed.
The rainfall run-off is performed to estimate total accumulated volume of water in each catchment for optimum water utilisation, said an official who was manning the NECTAR stall at the 5th India International Science Festival 2019 here.
Talking to this newspaper on the sidelines of the IISF, Manjusha Singh said NECTAR has so far conducted studies on Tapi, Mahanadi and Krishna rivers but has not been able to undertake any studies on the Brahmaputra because they have not been able to lay their hands on ten years data on the river, which is essential.
They need data such as water level for 10 years besides other aspects of the Brahmaputra river to conduct the study. But the official could not explain why the Assam government has not been able to supply them the data on the river for the last 10 years given that the State has been suffering from floods for over several decades.
Every year Assam suffers from floods but the State has been unable to avail of the facilities like real-time flood forecasting.
Meanwhile, Assam Water Resources Minister Keshab Mahanta attended one of the sessions in the international science festival.
