Assam government partners with IIT Guwahati to train engineers for flood mitigation

The Assam government signed a memorandum of understanding with IIT Guwahati at Lok Sewa Bhavan today, launching an ambitious initiative to strengthen the state's flood management capabilities through advanced engineering education.

 

The partnership establishes a two-year online M.Tech programme specifically designed for engineers from the Water Resources Department. Twenty engineers will be enrolled annually, allowing them to enhance their technical skills while continuing their regular duties.

 

"For flood mitigation, we need empowered and more educated engineers. IIT Guwahati will empower our department," said Assam minister Pijush Hazarika. The programme aims to address Assam's persistent flood and erosion challenges through scientific approaches and data-driven solutions.

 

The collaboration forms part of the Assam Integrated River Basin Management Project (AIRBMP), which emphasises long-term, sustainable strategies over temporary fixes. The project incorporates real-time flood forecasting systems, hydrometeorological monitoring, and evidence-based planning to improve disaster response.

 

Hazarika highlighted a dramatic increase in flood management investment under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's administration. "Earlier, our department spent only 200 to 300 crores per year to control floods. But under the guidance of Himanta Biswa Sarma, we are spending around 2,000 crores per year so that we can mitigate floods," the official explained.

 

The enhanced funding has yielded significant results across the state. "Flooding in Dhemaji, Morigaon, Majuli, and North Lakhimpur has been mitigated, I think, by 70 per cent. Flooding in Nalbari, the Barak Valley, and I think all over Assam has been mitigated by 70 per cent," according to department sources.

 

The AIRBMP adopts a comprehensive approach combining structural interventions like embankments with nature-based solutions, including afforestation and wetland restoration. The project also focuses on developing climate-resilient villages equipped with flood shelters and Community Quick Response Teams to strengthen local disaster preparedness.

 

Despite the progress achieved, he acknowledged ongoing challenges. "We also need to mitigate the remaining 30 per cent, and we are working on that," Hazarika noted.