Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 72/15

SUSHRI UMA BHARATI ATTENDS 7TH HIGH POWERED REVIEW MEETING OF THE BRAHMAPUTRA BOARD

Shillong, February 11, 2015: Sushri Uma Bharati, Union Minister for water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation today attended the 7th High Powered Review Meeting of the Brahmautra Board held at State Convention Centre, Shillong.

Also present were Dr. Mukul Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Shri Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Rowel Lyngdoh, Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Shri Basanta Das, Minister for Water Resources, Government of Assam. Shri Ngamthang Haokip, Minister for Irrigation and Flood Control, Government of Manipur, Shri Kamlung Mossang, Minister for Water resources, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Shri Somnath Poudyal, Minister for Irrigation and Flood Control, Government of Sikkim, Shri Pu Lal Thanzara, Minister of State for health and Family Welfare, MI & ICT, Government of Mizoram, Shri Vikheho Swu, Parliamentary Secretary, Government of Nagaland, Shri A B Pandya, Chairman, Central Water Commission and chairman Brahmaputra Board and officials from North Eastern States.

In her press briefing Union Minister informed that she has received useful feedback on many issues concerning water resources in the north eastern states. Further, the Union Minister said that after reviewing all the feedback during the visit and received earlier by the ministry, she announced that the Brahmaputra Board needs to be renamed and restructured to make it more participative and to match with the aspirations of all the stakeholders.

The Union Minister also added that the idea of revamping the existing structure of the organization is to make it enable it capable to meet the challenge of holistic development of water resources of the entire north eastern region. The concept note would be circulated to all the states for the para-wise comments. She informed that after receiving comments, a committee will be formed having representatives from central government and all the states of the north east. The committee would make recommendations that would be followed by creating consensus among all the stakeholders. After the consensus, procedure for the amendment would be initiated.

Meanwhile the, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Dr. Mukul Sangma has termed the decision of the Centre to revamp the Brahmaputra Board as historic. Brahmaputra is a challenge for the whole Northeast and that has been the reason to revamp and restructure Brahmaputra Board which will address all issues pertaining to water resources, he added. “We look forward for a real game changer that can be effected by the initiative to restructure, revamp and further mandate it with broader responsibilities and will extend all necessary cooperation and support in fructifying this important objective with which you are giving a new direction to the ministry and proposed revamping and restructuring of the Brahmaputra Board,” Sangma said.

During the meeting a book on Water Sector in Meghalaya published by Meghalaya Water Resources Development Agency, Government of Meghalaya was also released. This book focused on the policies and the programmes of the government of Meghalaya and other stakeholders in managing the water resources of the state.