Current Research

A river is so ubiquitous in nature. It serves as a blessing to the people, assisting them with irrigation, hydropower, navigation, and other water need, thereby uplifting the socio-economic condition of the riverine community. In North-East India, the river Brahmaputra plays an anchoring role in the lives of the people. The river, however, sometimes becomes a wellspring of malediction, causing widespread flood and erosion hazards resulting in severe damage to life and property. Various structural measures have been attempted so far to alleviate measures due to flood and erosion hazards and these have altered the natural hydraulic characteristic of the river. Hydrological alteration witnessed in recent years due to climate change and anthropogenic impacts has also inspired the need for more research towards river management with a due emphasis towards maintaining the ecological balance of this mighty river while utilizing its potential benefits. Therefore, orienting scientific research to get insight into the flow characteristic of such a large braided river and its relation to aquatic ecology is becoming highly essential to adopt a holistic approach in utilizing and managing the river to achieve better environmental and ecological sustainability. The large nature of the Brahmaputra river basin attributes to its diversity making many of its characteristics unaddressed. Although different governments and research institutes have undertaken mathematical and experimental studies, a holistic approach is still required to encapsulate the various aspects of the flow system. The complexity in river hydraulics, especially in braided systems, needs a rigorous study to understand its flow characteristics profoundly. This research aims at studying the hydrological and hydrodynamic nexus of the river and its impact on the ecosystem.