1. Brahmaputra Basin:
On policy perspectives and institutional processes
Chandan Mahanta
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
mahantaiit@gmail.com

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. Brahmaputra: unique river system
•
•
•
•
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
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
Pasighat in 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. 2004
2001
1998
1995
1992
1989
1986
1983
1980
1977
Year
Flood damage in Assam plains during 1953-2006
Population affected (m).
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
-2
Population affected
1974
1968
1965
1962
1959
1956
Area affected
1971
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
1953
Area affected (mha).
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
Embankment
a)Brahmaputra
b)Tributaries
Anti-erosion/ Town Protection Scheme
Drainage Channel
Sluices (major)
Raised Platform
Quantity
1016 Km
2681Km
533 Nos
599 Km
56 Nos
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
Simulated average change in rainfall (mm/day)
for 2071–2079 under SRES B2 scenarios from
PRECIS relative to baseline (1961–1990)
Simulated average change in rainfall (mm/day)
for 2071–2079 under SRES A2 scenarios from
PRECIS relative to baseline (1961–1990)
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

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. Navigation
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

11. Regional level ‘big picture’ assessment of water
resources development scenario in the region
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•
•
•
•
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No holistic assessment so far
Regional and global linkage missing
Outlook of the regional governments must change
Synergy amongst departments and agencies
Environmental and tectonic knowledge
Examine potential of different options for industrial,
economic, agricultural development vis-à-vis water
Knowledge base as a tool for regional consensus
Economic efficiency as a major consideration in water
resource development and flood/ erosion mitigation

12. Towards renewed policy
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)
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)

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

14. Conclusions
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
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.