States » EastPosted at: Oct 30 2026 9:30PM


MP Tai Tagak flags river monitoring gaps, seeks stronger flood management in Arunachal

Itanagar, Oct 30 (UNI) Rajya Sabha MP from Arunachal Pradesh Tai Tagak has raised concerns over gaps in river monitoring and flood management in the Northeastern state before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources, calling for stronger implementation of the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP) and comprehensive safety assessments of hydropower projects in the Himalayan region.
Speaking at a meeting of the committee in Parliament House on Friday, Tagak highlighted the state's vulnerability to floods, riverbank erosion and other water-related disasters, and stressed the need for adequate financial and technical support to strengthen flood protection and disaster mitigation infrastructure.
The meeting, held as part of the committee's examination of the project appraisal framework and accountability mechanisms of the Central Water Commission (CWC), was attended by senior officials of the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the CWC.
Drawing attention to Arunachal Pradesh's extensive river network and its international borders with China, Bhutan and Myanmar, Tagak said systematic and continuous monitoring of rivers, water levels and vulnerable locations was essential for identifying potential threats and taking timely preventive measures.
The MP expressed concern over what he described as inadequate monitoring of the state's river systems by the regional office of the CWC and the Brahmaputra Board.
He urged the authorities to strengthen monitoring mechanisms across districts, improve surveillance of vulnerable river stretches and put in place effective early warning systems.
Tagak said the state's difficult terrain, climatic conditions and strategic location required special consideration while appraising and implementing water resources and flood management projects.
He also flagged the threat posed by Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in the Himalayan region, warning of their potential impact on downstream settlements, public infrastructure and hydropower projects.
Referring to the collapse of the Teesta-III hydropower dam in October 2023, he stressed the need to assess the vulnerability of existing and under-construction dams to GLOF events and other extreme flood scenarios.
Citing a Ministry of Jal Shakti communication issued in August 2024, Tagak noted that the CWC monitors 902 glacial lakes and water bodies in the Himalayan region annually between June and October. The Ministry had also stated that the design flood of vulnerable dams would be reviewed to ensure adequate spillway capacity to handle a combination of Probable Maximum Flood and GLOF scenarios.
He further referred to the approval of a Rs 150-crore GLOF risk mitigation project covering Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim, and called for effective scientific assessment, regular monitoring and mitigation measures in the state.
The MP also raised concerns over the structural safety and environmental implications of run-of-the-river hydropower projects in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. While such projects generally depend on natural river flows and involve limited or no large reservoir storage, he stressed that their hydrological vulnerabilities and exposure to extreme flood events, including GLOFs, required careful assessment.
He called for comprehensive scientific studies, adherence to safety standards and effective disaster preparedness mechanisms before and during hydropower development.
Emphasising institutional coordination, Tagak sought closer cooperation among the Ministry of Jal Shakti, CWC, Brahmaputra Board, National Disaster Management Authority and the Arunachal Pradesh government.
He said strengthening FMBAP, ensuring systematic river monitoring, improving early warning systems and undertaking comprehensive risk assessments of hydropower projects should be priority areas for the state.
The MP urged the concerned authorities to give focused attention to Arunachal Pradesh's river systems and flood management requirements, stressing that scientific planning and climate-resilient infrastructure were essential to protect lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure in the Himalayan border state.
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