Why in the News?

In October 2025, a High-Level Committee (HLC) chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah approved projects worth ₹4,645.60 crore for nine Indian states under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF). Among these, Assam received one of the largest allocations — ₹692.05 crore — for the restoration and rejuvenation of 24 wetlands across nine districts in the Brahmaputra River system.

This landmark initiative, jointly funded by the Central (75%) and State Government (25%), aims to utilize wetlands as natural flood buffers — marking a paradigm shift from traditional flood control methods (embankments and dredging) to ecosystem-based flood management.

Previously Assam has also launched an ambitious initiative to use wetlands as natural floodwater reservoirs to mitigate the recurring flood disasters of the Brahmaputra River system. Together, these measures reflect a paradigm shift from structural flood control (embankments, dredging) to ecosystem-based flood mitigation.

Background: Assam’s Flood Crisis

• Assam, lying in the Brahmaputra and Barak floodplains, experiences annual flooding affecting over 30 lakh people every year.
• Soil erosion, siltation, and encroachment of wetlands have severely reduced the flood-buffering capacity of natural systems.
• According to the North-East Space Application Centre (NESAC), 271 wetlands in Assam are suitable for floodwater diversion, capable of storing over 220 lakh cubic metres of excess water and potentially reducing flood peaks by 20–80%.

₹692-Crore Wetland Restoration Project

Objectives:

• Restore 24 degraded wetlands across nine Brahmaputra valley districts.
• Enhance water storage capacity, biodiversity health, and groundwater recharge.
• Strengthen flood buffering capacity by reconnecting wetlands with tributaries and floodplains.
• Reduce siltation load and improve stormwater retention in the basin.

Key Components:

• Desiltation and restoration of degraded wetlands like Deepor Beel, which acts as Guwahati’s natural stormwater outlet.
• Rehabilitation of floodplain ecology to function as natural sponges during monsoon peaks.
• Community-based watershed management, integrating traditional knowledge with modern scientific tools (GIS mapping, hydrological modelling).
• Annual Climate Resilience Audits to measure ecological outcomes and community benefits.

Expected Outcomes

Hydrological Benefits

• Enhanced water retention and groundwater recharge.
• Reduction in sedimentation and erosion.
• Controlled release of floodwaters to prevent flash floods.

Ecological and Livelihood Gains

• Biodiversity restoration and improved aquatic ecosystems.
• Boost to fisheries, agriculture, and eco-tourism.
• Carbon sequestration and climate resilience.

Disaster Mitigation Impact

• Reduced flood frequency and damage intensity.
• Natural moderation of flood peaks, easing pressure on embankments.
• Long-term resilience for flood-prone communities.

Urban Flood Mitigation Linkages

Alongside the wetland initiative, the Centre also approved Urban Flood Risk Management Programme (UFRMP) – Phase II for 11 Indian cities, including Guwahati.

Guwahati’s Flood Mitigation Project:

Outlay: ₹200 crore (₹180 crore Central share).

• Interlinking of city water bodies for better drainage.
• Construction of flood protection walls and erosion control structures.
• Stormwater management, early warning systems, and data acquisition networks.
• Soil stabilization using nature-based solutions (NBS).

About Assam’s “Wetland Integration Initiative” (Budget 2024–25, ₹200 Crore)

Objective:

To divert excess floodwaters from the Brahmaputra and its tributaries into designated wetlands serving as temporary flood reservoirs.

Key Wetlands Identified:

Additional Benefits:

• Recharge of groundwater aquifers and protection of farmland from inundation.
• Support for pisciculture, irrigation, and rural tourism.
• Potential for carbon sequestration and aquatic ecosystem revival.
• Diversion of conserved floodwater for industrial and agricultural use, especially in Dima Hasao and water-scarce regions.

Scientific and Policy Basis

• The initiative aligns with the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (1971) and the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.
• Endorses the ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR) model advocated by UNEP and NIDM.
• Reflects Union Home Minister’s proposal to construct large ponds in the Northeast to store floodwaters.
• Integrates the concept of “Watershed Management for Flood Buffering” – focusing on soil conservation, sediment control, and ecological restoration.

Challenges and Feasibility Concerns

• Siltation and sediment load have drastically reduced the water-retention capacity of existing wetlands.
• Encroachments, pollution, and urban expansion (e.g., Guwahati’s Deepor Beel) threaten ecosystem health.
• Hydrological unpredictability: The Brahmaputra frequently shifts course, complicating planned flood diversions.
• Administrative complexity: Involvement of multiple departments — Water Resources, Forest, and Urban Development — requires strong institutional coordination.
• Extreme flood events: During super floods, even restored wetlands may exceed capacity, requiring supplementary flood control measures.
• Socio-economic displacement risks if wetland conversion impacts settlements.

Way Forward

• Integrated Basin-Level Planning: Combine flood control, irrigation, and wetland rejuvenation under a Brahmaputra Basin Management Authority.
• Community Participation: Empower local wetland management committees to ensure sustainable outcomes.
• Scientific Monitoring: Use remote sensing and GIS to track wetland health, siltation, and water storage efficiency.
• Hybrid Model: Combine ecosystem-based solutions with engineered interventions (embankment strengthening, drainage modernization).
• Livelihood Linkages: Promote eco-tourism, fisheries, and agro-based industries linked to restored wetlands.

Conclusion

The ₹692-crore wetland restoration project and wetland integration initiative represent a transformative step in Assam’s flood management strategy. By turning wetlands into nature-based flood reservoirs, Assam is embracing a scientifically grounded, ecologically sensitive, and community-driven approach. While challenges persist, successful implementation could establish Assam as a model of sustainable flood governance, balancing disaster resilience, environmental conservation, and livelihood security for millions living in the Brahmaputra valley.

Mains Question

Q. The Central Government has approved a ₹692-crore project for the restoration and rejuvenation of 24 wetlands across nine districts of Assam as part of a new watershed-based flood management strategy for the Brahmaputra basin.
Elaborate the main features of this project and critically examine its feasibility as a long-term solution for flood management in Assam. (250 words)