Assam scientist's project catches Centre's eye

BRAHMAPUTRA FLOOD CONTROL

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, May 18: The Centre has asked the Central Water Commission and the Brahmaputra Board to examine a project by an Assam scientist that proposes to tackle the perennial flood problem in Assam in five years in a “cost effective” and “self-regulatory” way.

Former Geography head of Darrang College and now guest lecturer at the North Eastern Institute of Water and Land Magement, Dr Sailendra Borthakur had sent his project to the Prime Minister.

“The PMO had referred the project to the Ministry of Water Resources which in turn has asked the CWC and Brahmaputra Board to study its feasibility,” Dr Borthakur told The Sentinel. The Rs 1.5-lakh crore project envisages creation of storage belts along the Brahmaputra to control the flooding.

“It intends to regulate the flood water and restore the degradation in the environment. No mechanical device is required to regulate the water flow. There is no use of high-end technology. It will be adaptive to ture,” he said.

Dr Borthakur says that when water level exceeds the channel carrying capacity of the river, floods are triggered. “It takes 72 to 120 hours for the river to revert to its origil status. Through this project, I propose to hold the excess water in storages alongside the main river. We will need a storage belt of around 1000 sq km. These reservoirs will hold a certain amount of water throughout the year,” he said.

He says that his project could generate direct and indirect employment for around 2 lakh people.

“Besides, as there is a plan to grow bamboo and cane on some stretches. The products from these plantations can feed up to 50 paper mills. The reservoirs can also serve as fisheries, generating additiol employment and revenue,” Dr Borthakur said.

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