Aizawl, October 18: The 86th meeting of the Brahmaputra Board, held in Aizawl under the chairmanship of Dr. Ranbir Singh, marked a significant step toward integrated water resource management in the Brahmaputra and Barak basins. The meeting followed the Board’s recent reconstitution by the central government aimed at enhancing coordination among basin states.

The reconstituted Board, notified on September 15, 2025, now includes Sikkim and West Bengal as basin states and has elevated representation to the level of Secretary (Water Resources) for all nine basin states. The move is expected to strengthen inter-state collaboration and accelerate decision-making on water management and flood control initiatives.

During the meeting, the Board approved several key project proposals across the Northeast, focusing on watershed management, flood mitigation, and water conservation. These include:

• LiDAR survey of the Umgot watershed in Meghalaya for advanced hydrological mapping.
• Study of Sugar Mill Nallah in Dimapur, Nagaland, for basin planning and drainage improvement.
• Preparation of DPR for a rainwater harvesting dam at Kolasib, Mizoram.
• Springshed development in Kamjong district, Manipur.
• Preliminary report for springshed management in seven clusters across Arunachal Pradesh.

The Board also approved the Revised Estimate of ₹148 crore for FY 2025–26 and a Budget Estimate of ₹225 crore for FY 2026–27.

A key highlight of the meeting was the approval of a three-year plan to revamp the North Eastern Hydraulic and Allied Research Institute (NEHARI) into a Centre of Excellence for research, capacity building, and consultancy in water resource management. The initiative aims to modernize NEHARI with advanced facilities for material testing, knowledge exchange, and technical training.

Dr. Singh emphasized the importance of institutional strengthening, digital transformation, and specialized training, urging all basin states to actively nominate officers for NEHARI’s capacity-building programs. He noted that the inclusion of all nine basin states would “foster greater coordination and cooperation for holistic basin management.”

The State of Manipur has volunteered to host the 87th Meeting of the Brahmaputra Board in Imphal.