India, Bhutan discuss cooperation for water management at Kokrajhar

Our Correspondent

Kokrajhar: An international consultation on transboundary cooperation for effective management of water risk between India and Bhutan was held at Kokrajhar town on Thursday and Friday. The consultation was hosted by NGO- NERSWN Foundation, AARANYAK and OXFAM of India and TROSA, Sweden Sverige and Bhutan Transparency Initiative (BTI) of Bhutan.

Former Minister, Prime Minister and Speaker of Bhutan Dr. Kinzang Dorji graced the occasion as chief guest along with the prime members of Bhutan Media Foundation, Editor of Kuensel accompanied by the members of Bhutan -India Friendship Association (BIFA), BCCI & BTI Gelephu and a member representative of TARAYANA Foundation of Bhutan while from Indian counterpart, many NGO activists, experts, scholars and noted personalities participated in the programme.

On day one, the welcome address was given by Pratibha Brahma, editor of The Opinion-Bibungthi and Director of NERSWN NGO Raju Kr Narzary. The Deputy Commissioner, Kokrajhar Partha Pratim Mazumder inaugurated the consultation programme while Pankash Anand of OXPAM gave the key note address.

The first technical session on the topic-Trends in water risk management in Bhutan-India context was chaired by Dr. Kinzang Dorji where Dr. Neera Shrestha, ICIMOD, Indrajit Kaul, Chief Additional Engineer of Kokrajhar Water Resources department and Animesh Prakash of OXPAM presented their papers.

On civil society engagement in transboundary cooperation by Bhutan and India, former secretary general of BIFA, Ugyen Rabten, Yeshi Tenzin, programme officer of Shandrup Dzongkar Initiative, Digambar Narzary of Nedan Foundation, Dr. Partha J. Das, Head of water, climate and hazard division of AARANYAK presented their papers.

On the last day on Friday, Pratibha Brahma, editor of The Opinion -Bibungthi, Jennifer Liang of The ANT, Palden Wangmo, programme officer of Tarayana Foundation, Bhutan, Padmini Brahma, social activist delivered speech on women leadership for effective Bhutan -India cooperation. The technical session was chaired by Pema Lhamo. Besides, there had been discussion on re-imagining Bhutan -India friendship : an open dialogue for future cooperation.

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