Brahmaputra ‘Rejuvenation’: Policy managers for forest remedy

Dimapur, Aug. 27 (EMN): A meeting to discuss preparation of a detailed project report for ‘rejuvenation’ of the Brahmaputra River through forestry interventions in Nagaland was held on August 27 at the Civil Secretariat in Kohima.

The central government’s ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is said to have entrusted a forestry research agency in Dehradun to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for rejuvenation of 13 major rivers in the country through ‘forestry interventions.’

The government publicity agency, the department of Information and Public Relations (IPR), gave updates on August 27 informing about the meeting.

Chief Secretary of Nagaland, Temjen Toy, said many of the Naga people do not realise that water crisis is becoming more and more alarming.

‘Rainfall has been declining over the years, only the intensity has increased by way of cloudbursts and other weather phenomena,’ he said. ‘In such a backdrop we have the Brahmaputra rejuvenation project coming our way and Nagaland is an important part of this project.’

Speaking about the ‘nine policies of the project,’ Toy said it encompasses many important issues including adaptation policies to tackle Climate Change which involves villagers and landowners.

Scientist and project coordinator, Dr. Dhruba J Das gave a presentation. He said that the objective of the meeting was to work for cooperation among stakeholders and to develop region-specific strategies for the state of Nagaland.

The ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change entrusted the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education at Dehradun to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for rejuvenation of 13 major rivers in the country through forestry interventions. The rivers include Beas, Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi, Sutlej, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Narmada, Krishna, Godavari, Cauvery, and Luni belonging to nine river basins, the IPR stated.

Das said that a DPR preparation for the ‘rejuvenation’ of the Ganges through forestry interventions had already been prepared by the ICFRE in 2016. It was as part of the Namami Gange programme of the ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, the IPR stated.

Das mentioned that the Rain Forest Research Institute (RFRI) at Jorhat under the ICFRE was instructed to prepare a DPR for the rejuvenation of the Brahmaputra River through forestry interventions.

The official listed out the broad objectives of the project. They include review and assessment of the existing situation of river basin, identification and involvement of stakeholders and building consensus for design and development of strategies and approaches, assessment of ongoing forestry activities of the States, examining the possibility of allied and other income generation activities, formulation of strategies, development of approaches, and plan activities for project implementation.

The principal chief conservator of Forest for Nagaland Rajat S Pal also spoke at the event. He said there are two things that need to be considered when formulating policies for the project in Nagaland: rivers have to be identified whether they are east or west flowing and, secondly, the land belongs to the people.

Das expressed the need to involve neighbouring states besides taking into consideration the importance of geology of the areas that are involved, the IPR stated.

Open discussion was held during the meeting. It focused on existing reports and works that have been done by the departments and organisations; data formats, agro-forestry and other models that have been developed and tested by various agencies; and future plans for forestry intervention and planning for follow-up action.