GUWAHATI: 'Brahmaputra Aamantran Abhiyan’ (BAA), a river rafting expedition and public outreach programme was inaugurated today, December 23 in Arunachal Pradesh.
The first stretch of the Abhiyaan’s inaugural was flagged-off by the Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sports, & Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju and the people of Tuting including students.
The Abhiyaan began from Mayum Hanging Bridge, Gelling, Arunachal Pradesh by undertaking rafting by National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team.
Taking to Twitter Kiren Rijiju wrote, "The biggest river of our country, the mighty Brahmaputra is known as Siang in Arunachal Pradesh. It enters our motherland India near Gelling. Joined 'Brahmaputra Aamantran Abhiyaan' at Tuting organised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti with Govt of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam & NDRF."
The rafting team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will start from Gelling in Arunachal Pradesh traversing along the Siang/Brahmaputra River, docking at various stations before concluding at Assameralga near Indo-Bangla Border in Assam.
BAA, an initiative of the Government of India is organized by Brahmaputra Board under the Ministry of Jal Shakti to popularize sustainable practices and river rejuvenation. The expedition is being supported by the Government of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, various Government Organizations viz.- North Eastern Council (MoDoNER), WAPCOS Ltd., Oil India Ltd., NHPC Ltd., National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL).
BAA has two-pronged approaches:
a) A Public Outreach Programme focusing on the younger generation through a river rafting expedition to inculcate the concept of "Living with the River".
b) A combined scientific data collection & analysis on river water quality, river sediment, riverbank erosion, and fish habitat along the entire route of the expedition.