[Assam] From Assam Tribune/ Innovative Thinking?

[Jyotirmoy Sharma]

I think the Governor may have suggested the idea without too much of a
technical know how. Probably it would not reduce Assam's floods but probably
supply water to the less hydrated states. Will the other states pay Assam
revenue?
The cost of the project would probably be enormous. Why bring water from
Assam to Rajasthan when water from the Arabian sea would be a closer option?

Saying that, one of our politicians( who has now recently become the CM )
had propagated an idea of bringing water to Perth from the Kimberleys( in
the Northern part of Western Australia ) by building a very very long canal
or something in the last election. Western Australia is larger than India in
size. His party lost the last election but this year he is back as the CM of
the state. Let's see if he still has the grand idea.

An idea should not be summarally dismissed. After all, people were still
worshipping the moon when the moon landing happened.
So what's the solution? Perhaps Assam cannot escape floods. I think building
stronger emabankments along the length of the Brahmaputra( not the half
hearted attempts of erecting bamboo poles ) would lessen erosion. Dredging
of the river is another option talked about, but how often would this have
to be done? Building dams in China would proably give China a big hand in
controlling Assam's fortune. Again, a dam bursting would be disastrous. This
topic requires a depth analysis by experts and I am just a layman here. I
presume there will be experts in flood control ( maybe even in US ) who
maybe able to help. Any help to overcome floods in Assam is worth trying.
Maybe even a letter to the UN asking for help is not a bad idea.
JS



On Wed, Sep 17, 2008 at 10:30 PM, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:

> What do netters think? Is it  innovative thinking as the Assam
> Tribune characterizes it?  Will it "---reduce the flood level in the
> main river sufficiently" ?  Does it sound like a comment from even a
> remotely informed person or yet another fool's rants?  Or could AT's
> comment reflect utter clueless-ness and demonstration of abject
> brown-nosing?
>
> Express yourselves folks! Silence is not golden. Silence of the able
> is an abdication of citizenship responsibilities and leads to the
> blunders upon blunders that our people have endured for generations.
>
> cm
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Governor Mathur for diverting Brahmaputra water
>
> Spl correspondent
>  NEW DELHI, Sept 16 - In what could be described as innovative
> thinking, Governor of Assam, Shiv Charan Mathur today mooted an idea
> to create a mega national grid for diverting the water of mighty
> Brahmaputra River through pipeline to water deficient States. The
> Governor's proposal can be seen as an extension of the river-linking
> project, was unveiled at the two-day Conference of Governors' hosted
> by President, Pratibha Devisingh Patil, here today.
>
> The Governor, who spoke at length on the flood problem of Assam, has
> reasoned that if crude oil could be brought from countries like Iran
> and Afghanistan covering a distance of 5000 Km. Why can't water of
> Brahmaputra River be profitably used by water deficient States like
> Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand, Delhi and Rajasthan.
>
> A national grid for supply of water would be constructed at
> appropriate location in the mighty Brahmaputra and the same could be
> sent through pipeline to the water scarce States in the country, he
> said.
>
> All through its course adequate number of boosting stations could be
> put to reach the water to the States.
>
> This is going to reduce the flood level in the main river
> sufficiently. "To have a permanent solution to the flood problem we
> need to regulate the flow of water into the main river from its
> tributaries like constructing reservoirs in the upper reaches," he
> said.
>
> The river system of Assam has to develop in an integrated and
> comprehensive way for utilising the vast water resources available.
>
> This is a mega national project, which could be planned and initiated
> only by Government of India by making adequate financial provisions.
>
> A mechanism is therefore, required which would pay back the
> investments made and survive on its own and also generate adequate
> revenue, while giving additional benefits of introducing a
> nationalist and socio-economic fabric of the region by generating
> considerable jobs and various opportunities, in turn may solve the
> prevailing unrest in North Eastern Region, he suggested.
>
> Calling for support, the Governor said the mega national project is
> the need of the hour and should be undertaken by Government of India,
> if need be by inviting foreign consultants in the field.
>
> Referring to another aspect of the economy, the Governor said there
> were efforts underway to hold a seminar in December on the
> hydrocarbon potential and the key aspects of exploring oil on a large
> scale in Assam.
>
> Efforts are also underway to provide employment to the urban educated
> youths by opening new industries, starting new universities and by
> enhancing the intake capacity of existing institutions.
>
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