Chandan Mahanta

Professor, Department of Civil Engineering

Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati

mahantaiit@gmail.com

Brahmaputra Basin:

On policy perspectives and institutional processes

Brahmaputra Basin in India:

Dynamic unstable landscape;

People disadvantaged, less educated;

Political and social marginality;

Small ethnic minority;More vulnerable to

negative consequences

• 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 Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh compel Brahmaputra to assume a braided pattern, increasingly prominent further downstream.

Constraints of developmentAverage per capita income in Brahmaputra floodplains 30 percent lower

than national average

Geographical disadvantagePartial and uncertain accessibility of water resource

database resulting in lack of adequate scientific planningWater resource related institutional arrangements are

bureaucratically complex and/or incompleteMost projects are national government dependent Project blueprints not developed through riparian

consultation and inter-state dialogue

00.5

1

1.52

2.53

3.54

4.5

1953

1956

1959

1962

1965

1968

1971

1974

1977

1980

1983

1986

1989

1992

1995

1998

2001

2004

Year

Are

a af

fect

ed (

mha)

.

-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Pop

ula

tion a

ffec

ted (

m).

Area affected Population affected

Flood damage in Assam plains during 1953-2006

Flood and Erosion hazards

Effective development and management options

Flood Management- not flood protection alone

Improvement of existing measuresCombination of various measures Flood plain zoning, flood proofing,

flood forecastingDue importance to high sediment

componentProper implementation of advanced

technologies, e.g., Geo-synthetic materials, Amphibian dredger, hydraulic driving method

Local ownership and proactivemaintenance 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)

Multi purpose damsFlood storage as integral part of

hydropower projectsCommunity involvement in decision makingEnvironmental dimensions International transmission routesDam safetyPreference on small/mini/micro/pico hydel projects in a targeted mannerStructural modification, change in location and combination of both to minimize negative impacts of large hydropower projects.

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)

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

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

Regional level ‘big picture’ assessment of water resources development scenario in the region

• 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

Overcome geopolitical challengesAppropriate 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

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..

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-managementCollective strength of local, national and

international expertise to overcome hazards and put this unparalleled resource into best service of

humanity.