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National conclave on Brahmaputra from today

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Feb 11 - With a vision of �Translating ideas into action�, the Gauhati University in active collaboration with the North Eastern Council (NEC), has called for deliberation on various themes on the Brahmaputra during its two-day National Conclave on the Brahmaputra from tomorrow.

Despite the recurring problems of flood, erosion and sedimentation in the Brahmaputra valley, GU hopes to convert it into a resource for socio-economic growth and development of the State.

�Relief and rehabilitation following floods, construction and maintenance of embankments have remained a major burden for several decades,� said Prof Parag Phukan, coordinator of the Conclave.

�Even the proposal of the Brahmaputra dredging has seen a counter narrative questioning the efficacy of such measures in very high sediment-carrying river system. Therefore, there is a need for a holistic approach to study and look beyond these issues, especially with technological intervention,� Prof Phukan added.

Scientists and engineers, planners and policy makers from various organisations and institutions, government agencies and departments, and independent experts are invited for the deliberations on various issues related to the Brahmaputra like flood and erosion management, flood forecasting and hydrological models, engineering and technological intervention and sediment control.

The National Conclave will be inaugurated by the Union Minister of State for DoNER and Chairman of the NEC, Dr Jitendra Singh.

The Conclave will lay a platform to discuss the development of a system to cope with the highly dynamic river, keeping in mind the benefits of opening up huge avenues for navigation, aquaculture, water intensive agriculture, eco-tourism, hydropower and so on.

There has already been active consideration at the government level for taking various measures in a structured way, especially after the Prime Minister announced a comprehensive study package on the Brahmaputra recently.

Meanwhile, the Government of Assam has also constituted a number of expert committees for recommendations of suitable measures. These recommendations, however, are yet to be available in the public domain.

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