Assam to Build 15 Wetland Reservoirs to Tackle Floods

The Assam government will build 15 wetland reservoirs to divert overflowing waters of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries, aiming to reduce floods and create opportunities for fisheries and cultivation.

Approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs with ₹692 crore funding, the first phase covers Sonitpur, Jorhat (4 sites), Golaghat (4), and one site each in Sivasagar, Dibrugarh, Majuli, Morigaon, Tinsukia, and Kamrup Rural. Work has begun at Sonitpur’s Mora Bhorolu site with ₹61.14 crore sanctioned.

Water Resources Minister Pijush Hazarika said the plan, once criticised, will expand to 300–400 reservoirs in future. Assam is also modernising embankments with new technology, reducing breaches and construction time.

The state has already invested nearly ₹2,000 crore in flood management, with additional ADB-funded embankments planned. The reservoirs are expected to aid flood control while boosting agriculture, aquaculture, and rural livelihoods.