ITANAGAR, May 14: Brahmaputra Board (BB) Chairman Dr Ranbir Singh has said that Arunachal Pradesh should have its own State Water Policy and Flood Plain Zoning Act to avail the centrally funded schemes (CSS).
The Board chairman, who was on a two-day visit to Pasighat on May 12 & 13, said this during an informal meeting he had with the East Siang DC, SP, and Chief Engineers of Water Resources Department’s Eastern and Western Zones. He also stated that the Brahmaputra Board is always ready to give technical guidance to the state of Arunachal Pradesh and needs cooperation in return.
During the discussion, the WRD Chief Engineers urged the Brahmaputra Board to initiate the upgradation process of Basin-wise Master Plan of all basins of Arunachal Pradesh. They also informed the visiting Chairman regarding the pending liabilities amounting to Rs 2.52 crore in respect of FMP schemes and appealed the Board for early clearance.
Deputy Commissioner Tayi Taggu requested both the Brahmaputra Board and Water Resources Department to come up with nature based schemes in the future. He opined that the natural course of river should not be disturbed, while informing the visiting official that in Adi belt, all the rivers and streams are having ownership which ensures protection of rivers and streams and its catchment areas.
During his tour, the Brahmaputra Board Chairman visited two projects located at Remi and Oyan being executed by the Board under Itanagar Division. He also had a look over two project sites which are in proposal stage under the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP), proposed by WRD Pasighat Division, for erosion control and flood management work at Siang river and Sibo Korong river. (With DIPRO inputs)