Guwahati, April 21: Assam Chief Secretary Dr. Ravi Kota, IAS, on Monday chaired a high-level consultative meeting in Guwahati to discuss a proposed policy framework for the sustainable management and conservation of the Brahmaputra River's riverine islands, locally known as chars and chaporis. The initiative, spearheaded by the Brahmaputra Board, aims to establish a comprehensive, science-based policy for safeguarding these ecologically sensitive landscapes while addressing the needs of the people living there.
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| Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota chairs a consultative meeting in Guwahati to discuss a draft policy for sustainable management of Brahmaputra riverine islands. (Image: x.com/CSAssam_) |
The meeting was attended by Dr. Ranbir Singh, IAS (Retd.), Chairman of the Brahmaputra Board, along with representatives from the Government of India, the Government of Assam, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), and other key stakeholders.
Addressing the participants, Dr. Kota highlighted the unique and dynamic nature of Assam's riverine islands, which are constantly reshaped by erosion, sediment deposition, annual floods, and seismic activity. He noted that Assam has around 971 mapped chars and chaporis, covering approximately 8.5 per cent of the state's geographical area. Nearly 2.7 million people, or about 10 per cent of Assam's population, reside on just 4.6 per cent of the state's land area, making these regions densely populated and highly vulnerable.
The Chief Secretary pointed out several challenges affecting the riverine islands, including unclear land tenure, rapid population growth, unregulated settlements, deforestation, excessive use of chemical-based agriculture, and indiscriminate sand mining. He warned that these factors have contributed to ecological degradation and increased the vulnerability of the islands to floods, erosion, and other natural disasters.
Emphasising the ecological significance of the chars and chaporis, Dr. Kota described them as vital biodiversity habitats, wildlife corridors, and integral components of the Brahmaputra's river morphology. He stressed the need for an integrated policy that balances environmental conservation with sustainable development.
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Among the proposals discussed were adopting a zonation-based landscape approach, regulating construction and settlement expansion, preventing encroachments, promoting organic farming, encouraging responsibly managed eco-tourism, implementing nature-based riverbank stabilisation measures, protecting ecological corridors, and maintaining the river's hydrological and morphological balance.
The Chief Secretary directed all concerned departments to examine the draft policy and submit their recommendations before its finalisation. The proposed framework is expected to provide a resilient, sustainable, and scientific roadmap for managing Assam's unique riverine landscapes while safeguarding the livelihoods and environment of the state's char and chapori communities.
