Union Sports and Youth Minister Kiren Rijiju flagged “Brahmaputra Aamantran Abhiyaan” a 917 km long river rafting expedition and a public outreach initiative in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, on Wednesday.
Rijiju said in a tweet, “The biggest river of our country, the mighty Brahmaputra, is known as Siang in Arunachal Pradesh. It reaches our beloved country India near Gelling. Joins ‘Brahmaputra Aamantran Abhiyaan’ at Tuting arranged by the Ministry of Jal Shakti with the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam & NDRF.”
The Union Minister launched a month-long expedition, coordinated by the Brahmaputra Board under the Union Jal Shakti Ministry and assisted by the Governments of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), from the Mayum Bridge in Gelling in the Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
“Brahmaputra Aamantran Abhiyaan” was conducted as part of the public outreach, promoting young people and students, as well as popularising the idea of “living with others” .
The expedition was launched by a team comprising members of the NDRF, officers of the Brahmaputra Board and scientists with the assistance of the tourism departments of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
“A collective data collection and sampling exercise would also be done on river water quality, sediments, erosion and fish habitat along the entire 917 km route, in collaboration with various reputed institutes,” said Brahmaputra, a Guwahati-based official.
The rafting trip will take place both in Arunachal Pradesh and in Assam Dhemaji district of Pasighat, and would conclude on January 21 in Mankachar district near the Indian-Bangladesh border.
The mighty Brahmaputra, one of the longest rivers in the world, runs from Tibet to Arunachal Pradesh, to Assam, and finally to Bangladesh.
