Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, May 29: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh announced here today Government’s approval for setting up of an exclusive “Brahmaputra Study Centre” at Gauhati University, Guwahati, for which a fund of Rs.27.9933 crore will be provided by the Ministry of Northeast / DoNER. With the Ministry taking responsibility for fully funding this Centre, for the recurring component however, he said, the funding shall be decided after the details are submitted by the Gauhati University to the Ministry of Northeast /DoNER with the proposed phasing, etc.
Vice Chancellor of Gauhati University, Dr Mridul Hazarika personally called on Dr Jitendra Singh today to convey his thanks for this historic decision and announcement by the Ministry of DoNER. He said, the University has decided to provide separate land within the campus for a separate block for the Brahmputra Study Centre / Department and he has requested the DoNER Minister to kindly give a convenient date for the foundation stone laying ceremony.
Briefing the media about the new initiative, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the idea of setting up an exclusive Brahmaputra Study Centre came to his mind about two years back and it was inspired by the realization that the Gauhati University, which was one of the oldest universities of independent India and had a rich legacy, deserves to cultivate a unique identity for itself which could attract scholars from far and wide. He said, Brahmaputra is one of the three largest rivers of the world and the Study Centre being set up by his Ministry within the Gauhati University will offer an opportunity for research in different aspects of river Brahmaputra ranging from physics to hydrology, waterways to environment, disaster / flood management to hydro-power production and thus, any scholar from any part of the world who wishes to undertake a study in any of these diverse aspects will find the most suitable and handy ‘Centre of Excellence’ in the Gauhati University.
Describing it as “one stop destination point” for all issues and problems that may emerge from time to time with respect to the Brahmaputra River System, Dr Jitendra Singh informed that the first major study at the Centre has already been initiated. It is devoted to the research on the causes and prevention of frequent floods in the river and the resource persons include some of the internationally renowned scholars from across the world. The Centre will gain more visibility once it has an exclusive building and block constructed within the campus.
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