Water and Climate Programme (WCP)

The Northeast India, consisting of the eight states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura, presents a distinctive geophysical unit set in the pristine Eastern Himalayan Region with a unique physiographic framework, a vigorous monsoon dominated climatic regime and a dynamic hydro-geomorphic regime. Endowed with a sub (extra) tropical type of monsoonal climate, the region shows remarkable variability of weather and climate on a regional scale and forms a distinct climatic zone within the Indian landmass. Comprising mainly of the basins if three of the large river systems of the world viz. the Brahmaputra, the Barak (Meghna) and the Irrawady, the NER possesses the richest treasure-trove of water resources in India. It possesses about 30% of the total water resources potential and about 41 % of the total hydropower potential of India. The per capita and per hectare availability of water in this region is the highest in the country. The NE India is one of the wettest as well as most acutely flood prone zones of the world.

The Water and Climate Programme (WCP) of AARANYAK was launched in the year 2001 and till now its activities have been carried out by the Water Resources and EIA Division of AARANYAK. The WCP programme has been conceived to carry out intensive scientific study of the key issues related to water and climate of the region including the human and societal dimensions of these issues. Designed initially for a period of five years (2001-2005) the WCP programme covers the following activities

• Comprehensive assessment of eco-systems of important river basins of the region.

• Assessment of environmental impacts of ongoing and proposed water resources projects such as large river dams.

• Documentation of flood & erosion hazards.

Under the Water and Climate (WCP) Programme of AARANYAK several important programmes were undertaken during this period 2005-2007.

Two workshops were organised at Guwahati and Itanagar on Hydropower and Biodiversity with support from the Bombay Natural History Society (Mumbai). The Guwahati workshop was held on May 28-29, 2005 at the Indian Institute of Bank Management, Guwahati while the Itanagar consultative workshop was Organised at the North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh on May 13, 2006. Both these successful events were attended by a host of researchers, academicians, policy makers and civil society leaders. Mr. Newlai Tingkhatra, Honourable Minister of Environment and Forest, Arunachal Pradesh and the Chief Guest of the Itanagar workshop appreciated AARANYAK’s efforts to sensitize people about the natural resources of the region and the impact of development projects on the environment and the people of the region.

Research/Study completed:

1. Water and Health: Case studies on heath hazards due to flooding and ground water contamination, completed 

2. Eco-hydrological appraisal of Important River basins in Northeast India using geospatial techniques: Kameng/Jiabhoroli and Manas river basins, completed

Major Research/Study commissioned:

• Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approach to sustainable development in northeast India: A study in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, commissioned in the year 2006. It is expected to be completed in 2008.

• Climate Change and  Northeast India:  Assessment of hazard, vulnerability and risk and Development of an Environmental and Human Security Strategy, commenced in 2006 to be completed in 2008

• Global Climate Change and its Implications for Northeast India: Scenarios, Concerns and Opportunities, started in 2007, to be completed in 2008

• Imperatives of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Carbon Economy for Northeast India in the global climate change context, commissioned in 2007, to be completed in 2008.

• Riverine ecosystems of Assam: Can they cope with environment and climate changes? Conceptualized in 2007, to be completed in 2009.

For further information please write to :

Partha Jyoti Das, Ph.D..
Head, Water and Climate Programme, Aaranyak

  ©AARANYAK 2008                         To know more about this initiative please contact Dr. Partha Jyoti Das at Phone: +919435116558           

                                                                              Email : partha@aaranyak.org