The Beki River in Assam has witnessed a rise in water levels following intermittent water releases from Bhutan’s Kurichhu Hydropower Project along with recent rainfall in the plains. The Barpeta district administration has issued precautionary measures for people living near the river and in low-lying areas. 

Understanding the Beki–Kurichhu connection

The Beki is a transboundary river that originates in Bhutan and flows through Assam before joining the Brahmaputra system. The river is particularly important for Lower Assam, where its floodplains are vulnerable to sudden increases in discharge.

• The Kurichhu Hydropower Project is located on the Kurichhu River in Bhutan. Kurichhu is a tributary within the Manas river system. 
• The present situation highlights how rainfall in the upper catchment and changes in river discharge can quickly affect downstream communities in Assam.
• Studies on the Beki basin have examined the combined impact of storm runoff and hydropower-related flow changes on downstream flooding. 

Why is this important for Assam?

Assam’s flood problem is not caused by a single factor. Heavy monsoon rainfall, high sediment load, riverbank erosion, drainage congestion and transboundary flows together increase flood vulnerability.

The issue also highlights the importance of transboundary water management between India and Bhutan. The two countries have a Joint Group of Experts on Flood Management, which discusses issues such as flood causes, river data and advance flood-warning mechanisms. The regulation of Kurichhu water releases has also been discussed under this mechanism. (Digital Sansad)

Key measures needed

• India and Bhutan should strengthen real-time hydrological data sharing and advance flood warnings for downstream districts.
• Assam should improve community-based early warning systems, especially in vulnerable riverine and low-lying settlements.
• Flood management should combine structural measures such as embankments and drainage improvement with non-structural measures such as forecasting, evacuation planning and land-use regulation.
• The focus should shift from merely controlling floods to integrated river-basin management, considering the entire transboundary catchment.

Exam Hook — Prelims Question

Consider the following statements:

1. The Beki River originates in Bhutan and flows through Assam.
2. The Kurichhu River is associated with the Manas river system.
3. India and Bhutan have a Joint Group of Experts for discussing transboundary flood-management issues.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Answer: 1, 2 and 3.

One-line wrap: The Beki–Kurichhu episode shows why Assam’s flood management requires both local preparedness and India–Bhutan transboundary cooperation.