[Assam] Putting a bridle on the Brahmaputra

Chan Mahanta cmahanta at gmail.com
Thu Jun 3 06:14:23 PDT 2010 

 >What does Tarun Gogoi know about hydrodynamics and erosion to okay  
the study?


*** We can give the benefit of a doubt here as to whether the CM has  
to know something to OK the study.
He can get advice from people who do. Question would be, whether the  
powers that be have the wherewithal to
seek, find and use the advice of those who do know what is involved  
and what needs done? It is abundantly
clear from recent experiences, and from the history of Indian  
governance, that it does NOT happen. Ever!


*** The report also did not say that the team of Profs. Sarma and  
Fluegel are necessarily going to be studying
more of bamboo as the panacea for erosion prevention or control. That  
is where the basic abilities of these
'journalists'  and the media comes to question, whether they know  
enough to ask the relevant questions
and report them in some coherent manner.

Several years ago, during the NDA admin., there was a report in the AT  
about questions asked of the
local BJP MP from Guahati about the flood issues in Assam. The answer  
from the MP was that the Brahmaputra
Board was studying the matter. There was no follow up question, no  
follow up information. I wrote a letter
to the editors of the AT inquiring whether the AT reporter ought not  
to have asked the MP what the BB was studying
all these years, and if her answer responded to the question he asked  
in the first place. Of course it was not published.

Dredging obviously is a major need. There can be other measures too,  
like siltation management and control,
check-dams for mini-retention-structures on tributaries. There are  
many more. Question is what the assignment is
for the team of scientists and whether it is equipped to deal with the  
various angles.

A CONCEPT study, may be just that, with little or no use for real  
action and results.

We will have to see.




On Jun 2, 2010, at 10:09 PM, Dilip and Dil Deka wrote:

> I agree with you wholeheartedly. What does Tarun Gogoi know about  
> hydrodynamics and erosion to okay the study? It is all about a  
> volume of water. If there is not enough depth, the river will find  
> the width to meander through. Erosion and flooding are results of  
> that. Silting and subsequent reduction of depth are the real causes.  
> Can they discipline the river to dig deeper by putting bamboo walls?  
> I'll be surprised if they can.
> So, what is the solution? Dredging the bed is the only solution in  
> rivers where there is silting.
>
> I'd like to see the full report before I believe these experts.
> Dilip Deka,
> Houston, Texas
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at gmail.com>
> To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the  
> world <assam at assamnet.org>
> Sent: Wed, June 2, 2010 8:59:26 PM
> Subject: Re: [Assam] Putting a bridle on the Brahmaputra
>
> K:
>
> First off, I would like to know what the Brahmaputra Board, after  
> all these years of 'studies', 'research'.
> 'planning' and spending, misappropriating and  squandering countless  
> crores of rupies has produced? What
> solutions has it found? And if not, an accounting of why not, and  
> who the responsible people were in this
> squandering were, and what consequences they should be meted out  
> should be the first order of business here.
>
> I know Dr. Nayan Sharma is a thoughtful man. I had communicated with  
> him several years back, regarding
> the Brahmaputra. Obviously he is a good man to have in the effort.  
> But I am curious about what the MISSION is
> for the team of Nayan Sharma and W. Fluegel. The only bit of  
> information we can glean from the report is that
> they both have been proposing 'bamboo' , a contemporary   
> 'mokordhwoj' ( cure-all) for solving all problems
> it seems, for erosion control.  Erosion is an effect, not a cause.  
> Flooding too is an effect. CM Gogoi wants them
> to go ahead with their research. But to what end? What is/are the  
> problem/ s that they are entrusted
> with finding solution CONCEPTS for?
>
> The vagueness of the report is symptomatic of kharkhowa-governance.  
> I am not going to hold my breath on it.
>
> c-da
>
>
>
>
> On Jun 2, 2010, at 6:58 PM, kamal deka wrote:
>
>> The following news posting from The Sentinel.
>>
>> It seems,after a lengthy and troublesome wait,the killer flood will
>> not be able to throw people's life out of gear.Every year,the
>> devastating and ghastly flood leave an unimaginable trail of
>> destruction everywhere in Assam.I have the optimistic feeling that
>> unlike earlier facades,all is going to turn out well this time and  
>> not
>> a damp squib.I believe, a lot of netters do have a very good grasp on
>> this subject,.Please shed some light,if you can.
>>
>> Chandanda,What's your take on this?
>>
>> KJD
>>
>> Two scientists given go-ahead on research to tame B’putra
>>
>>
>> By our Staff Reporter
>>
>> GUWAHATI, June 2: A concept paper on the Brahmaputra river system and
>> management based on hydrology and hydraulic will be prepared by  
>> German
>> scientist Prof Wolfgang Flugel in association with Prof Nayan Sarma,
>> head of the department, Water Resource Department and Management,  
>> IIT,
>> Rourkee. The two scientists today demonstrated the power point (PP)
>> project before Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi at Dispur in presence of
>> other technical experts and top officials.
>>
>> According to sources, the State Government will hand over the concept
>> paper to be prepared by the two scientists to the Centre for taking
>> steps to tame the Brahmaputra. “Besides taming the Brahmaputra to  
>> have
>> control over floods and erosion, the State Government has made it a
>> point before the two scientists that the use the water resource of  
>> the
>> mighty river for socioeconomic development of the State should also  
>> be
>> an essential aspect in the concept paper,” the sources said.
>>
>> The two scientists have already prepared a research paper on the
>> Brahmaputra on their own, and they presented the paper before the
>> Chief Minister, experts and other top officials present today. The  
>> two
>> professors demonstrated how bamboo can be used to prevent erosion for
>> about 30 to 40 years.
>>
>> Gogoi requested the two professors to go ahead with their research
>> work. He said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Planning
>> Commission of India were contemplating on finding a permanent  
>> solution
>> to floods and erosion in Assam, and as such this concept paper might
>> serve the very purpose.
>>
>> Besides the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary NK Das, Chief Minister’s
>> advisor (development) CK Das, former Vice-Chancellor of Gauhati
>> University Nirmal Kumar Choudhury, retired GU professor Dulal Goswami
>> and Water Resource Department officials were present at the
>> demonstration.
>>
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>
>
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