GUWAHATI, Feb 7 � The two-day Third Assam Water Conference, 2015 organised by the Water Resources Department (WRD), which concluded here today, recommended investigation into the combined role of location of Assam vis-�-vis Tibetan Plateau, the Himalayas, Asian Monsoon, seismology and other compounding factors for ascertaining the dimension of potential hydro disasters in the NE region.
It also recommended that the benefits to be gained by sharing knowledge and technology with neighbouring Bangladesh should be clearly identified and pursued at all levels. Moreover, it said regional cooperation in the North East region among the stakeholders of all the states is of paramount importance and dialogue process should start immediately which will foster early understanding among the member states.
It laid emphasis on a judicious mix of structural intervention and non-structural measures for appropriate mitigation with community participation. Besides, it said in order to design appropriate flood warning or weather forecast system using latest software technology, it strongly recommends appropriation of latest space technology-based Doppler Radars which acquire real time meteorological data. It is understood that such a proposal was in advance stage during 2005-06 as was proposed by the State WRD, in collaboration with the NESAC.
It further said flood and erosion should be looked from a holistic analysis of integrated river basin development of Brahmaputra river and long-term solutions should be adopted rather than piecemeal approach.
It called for steps to establish on a priority basis a clear mandate as to what should be the final target in the Brahmaputra and Barak systems in matters of flood control etc. �Exhaustive holistic planning is needed to establish what we want to develop the rivers for. For instance, a strategy for land reclamation from the Brahmaputra should also consider who will own the reclaimed land,� it said.
It suggested that the repair and reinforcement of embankments should be pursued with adequate evaluation and with life cycle approach.
