GUWAHATI: The 14th meeting of the High-Powered Review Board (HPRB) of the Brahmaputra Board was held in Guwahati on Tuesday, May 19, under the chairmanship of Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil.
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The meeting was attended by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary, along with senior officials from the Centre, Northeastern states, technical experts and stakeholders.
During the programme, the Ministry of Jal Shakti launched the State Water Reforms Framework (SWRF), a national initiative aimed at strengthening water governance reforms across states and Union Territories.
The review board assessed the progress of the Brahmaputra Board in areas including river basin management, flood and erosion control, springshed rejuvenation, digital transformation, institutional reforms and capacity building.
According to the Board, 76 river basins and sub-basins have been identified for preparation and updation of masterplans covering the Brahmaputra and Barak river systems using technologies such as GIS, remote sensing, LiDAR and hydrological modelling.
The meeting also reviewed ongoing and proposed projects related to flood management, drainage development, anti-erosion measures and water conservation initiatives across Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura.
The review board also discussed the proposed revitalisation of the North Eastern Hydraulic and Allied Research Institute (NEHARI) and redevelopment of the Brahmaputra Board office complex at Basistha in Guwahati into a modern institutional campus.
The newly launched State Water Reforms Framework comprises 75 indicators across five areas including policy and regulation, infrastructure, project monitoring, digitalisation and community engagement. The framework aims to encourage states and Union Territories to adopt measurable reforms related to groundwater regulation, floodplain zoning, wastewater reuse, dam safety and river basin planning.
States and Union Territories have been given time till December 31, 2026, to undertake reforms and submit responses under the framework by January 31, 2027.