Release of water from hydroelectric dams from Arunachal Pradesh causes flood in Assam: Government

For integrated management of water resources for the whole of NE region, Sikkim and Brahmaputra basin of West Bengal, setting up of a multi-disciplinary body namely North East Water Management Authority is under active consideration

New Delhi: At a time when the entire Assam has been witnessing a flood fury, the Centre has admitted that the release of water from hydroelectric generation dams from Arunachal Pradesh and other states causes flood and damages in downstream areas in the State.

Officials from the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation admitted before a Parliamentary committee that some of the dams constructed for hydroelectricity generation like Ranganadi, Pare, Doyang, Kopili, Umiam, Serlui, Tuirial, and located upstream of Assam in Arunachal Pradesh and other states “release water on account of heavy inflows in rivers due to high precipitation in the upper catchment of their rivers which resulted in some damages in downstream areas in Assam.”

As most of these projects are run-off river projects, there is no scope for absorbing the flood peaks. However, with proper operation, coordination and regulation of reservoirs there is some possibility of achieving flood moderation up to a certain extent.

“Exercising the powers delegated section 10 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, Secretary, Department of Water Resources, RD & GR, Ministry of Jal Shakti has issued necessary directions to all authorities to inform downstream authorities whenever a decision is taken by them to release water from the reservoirs and dams within its limits.

The said decision should be communicated sufficiently in advance by the concerned States in order to allow mitigating measures to be set up by the downstream authorities against any impending flood situation, which could be caused due to the release of water from the dams and reservoirs,” the officials said.

Elaborating on the impact of hydro projects in Arunachal Pradesh on the floods in Assam, the officials said, “If the people living in Yingkiong, which is the headquarters of Upper Siang district get proper rehabilitation and if the project of Upper Siang is made then it will be very good. The projects that we have will be better than this because it will also reduce the generation cost of power and the biggest benefit will be that the flood situation in Assam will be overcome every year."

For integrated management of Water Resources for the whole of NE region, Sikkim and Brahmaputra basin of West Bengal, setting up of a multi-disciplinary body namely North East Water Management Authority (NEWMA) is under active consideration.

“The draft Bill has been prepared in consultative mode with all stakeholders at the highest level and was circulated to all concerned States and related central Ministries, NITI Aayog, etc. A conference of Chief Ministers and Ministers of North East Region (NER) States was also held under the chairmanship of Jal Shakti Minister in March 2020. The Draft Bill along with the draft Cabinet note is currently being examined by the Ministry of Law and Justice. Efforts are being made to introduce the Bill in the Parliament at the earliest,” the Parliamentary committee was told.

Under NEWMA, the Brahmaputra and Barak-river basin shall be managed as a single system and in an ecologically sustainable manner as a common pool community resource held, by the basin States, under public trust doctrine to achieve food security, livelihood support, and ensure equitable and sustainable development.