Chandan Mahanta, Guwahati Dialogue -10th September 2013

1. ChandanMahanta
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
[email protected]
Brahmaputra Basin:
On policy perspectives and institutional processes

2. Brahmaputra Basin in
India:
Dynamic unstable
landscape;
People disadvantaged, less
educated;
Political and social
marginality;
Small ethnic minority;
More vulnerable to
negative consequences

3. •Drainage pattern runs in diametrically opposite
•Drains diverse environments
•Himalayas considered to be younger in age
•In no other river bank erosion hazard is so critical
Brahmaputra: unique river system
According to Chinese Academy of Sciences (2012),
originated at the Angsi glacier, the Brahmaputra is 3,848
kilometers long, and its drainage area is 712,035 square
kilometers.
Steep slope of the river in hilly areas
and sudden decrease in slope near
Pasighatin Arunachal Pradesh
compel Brahmaputra to assume a
braided pattern, increasingly
prominent further downstream.

4. Constraints of development
Average per capita income in Brahmaputra floodplains 30 percent lower
than national average
Geographical disadvantage
Partial and uncertain accessibility of water resource
database resulting in lack of adequate scientific planning
Water resource related institutional arrangements are
bureaucratically complex and/or incomplete
Most projects are national government dependent
Project blueprints not developed through riparian
consultation and inter-state dialogue

5. 0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
1953
1956
1959
1962
1965
1968
1971
1974
1977
1980
1983
1986
1989
1992
1995
1998
2001
2004
Year
Area affected (mha).
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Population affected (m).
Area affectedPopulation affected
Flood damage in Assam plains during 1953-2006
Flood and Erosion hazards

6. Effective development and management options
Flood Management
-not flood protection alone
Improvement of existing measures
Combination of various measures
Flood plain zoning, flood proofing,
flood forecasting
Due importance to high sediment
component
Proper implementation of advanced
technologies, e.g., Geo-synthetic
materials, Amphibian dredger,
hydraulic driving method
Local ownership and proactive
maintenance in safety and
sustainability of any protection
infrastructure
Particulars Quantity
Embankment
a)Brahmaputra
b)Tributaries
1016 Km
2681Km
Anti-erosion/ Town Protection Scheme 533 Nos
Drainage Channel 599 Km
Sluices (major) 56 Nos
Raised Platform 3 Nos
Flood management works in the Brahmaputra basin
(WRD, Govt. of Assam, 2004)

7. Multi purpose dams
Flood storage as integral part of
hydropower projects
Community involvement in decision making
Environmental dimensions
International transmission routes
Dam safety
Preference on small/mini/micro/pico hydel projects in a targeted manner
Structural modification, change in location and combination of both to
minimize negative impacts of large hydropower projects.

8. Adaptation to climate change
Policies and institutional mechanism
integrating different departments
Focus on short term actions for adaptation
and mitigation
Linkage of climate change adaptation and
mitigation strategies with socio -economic
and institutional set up of the region
An over-arching climate polic ydimension for
the entire basin
Simulated average change in rainfall (mm/day)
for 2071–2079 under SRES A2 scenarios from
PRECIS relative to baseline (1961–1990)
Simulated average change in rainfall (mm/day)
for 2071–2079 under SRES B2 scenarios from
PRECIS relative to baseline (1961–1990)

9. Drinking Water
Sparse information on water quality
Fluoride and arsenic contamination
in major parts of the basin
Seek alternatives before it is too
late to cope with serious situations
Augmentation of groundwater
aquifers by surface water

10. Economic activity is projected to increase with generation of additional
27,000 jobs by 2020 and overall projected rate of economic return on
investments in inland water transport is around 15 % (World Bank, 2007)
Cost-benefit analysis
Integration of water transport into
overall development picture,
Increased navigational cooperation
with Bangladesh
Local-level infrastructure for
community water transport on secondary
rivers
Navigation

11. Regional level ‘big picture’ assessment of water
resources development scenario in the region
•Noholisticassessmentsofar
•Regionalandgloballinkagemissing
•Outlookoftheregionalgovernmentsmustchange
•Synergyamongstdepartmentsandagencies
•Environmentalandtectonicknowledge
•Examinepotentialofdifferentoptionsforindustrial,
economic,agriculturaldevelopmentvis-à-viswater
•Knowledgebaseasatoolforregionalconsensus
•Economicefficiencyasamajorconsiderationinwater
resourcedevelopmentandflood/erosionmitigation

12. Overcome geopolitical challenges
Appropriate policies, participatory processes, inter-state
and international cooperation
Specified roles of institutions and stakeholder groups
Management tools that involves regulation,
accountability, monitoring and enforcement (ADB, 2005)
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)
Towards renewed policy

13. Provision of data by concerned departments and
sharing of data among riparian states as well as
countriesfor collective endeavour
Country level discussion and consultation
Strengthened mechanism for transparency, public
participation, accountability
Environmental flow maintenance, water rights..

14. Greater thrust in water hazard management
Increased accountability by agencies
Better centre-state coordination
Inclusion of the community
Development of organized framework with
strong institutional mechanism
Conclusions
An umbrella organization at the basin level covering
all riparian states and countries
Holistic approach with techno-socio-management
Collective strength of local, national and
international expertise to overcome hazards and
put this unparalleled resource into best service of
humanity.