National Level Interactive Deliberation between state bureaucrats and CSOs on Trans-boundary Water Governance of Brahmaputra River

National Level Interactive Deliberation between state bureaucrats and CSOs on Trans-boundary Water Governance of Brahmaputra River

The day-long ‘National Level Interactive Deliberation between government officials and CSOs on Trans-boundary Water Governance of Brahmaputra River’ was jointly organized by RSPN and SaciWATERs based in India and was held on 2^nd March 2017 in RSPN’s Auditorium in Kawajangsa, Thimphu. The event was organized as part of the activities of the year long regional project on ‘Building Capacity of the CSOs and Communities for effective engagement in trans-boundary decision-making process of Brahmaputra River’.

About 11 experts from India attended and presented on trans-boundary water governance from the Indian prospective while officials from National Environment Commission Secretariat, Department of Disaster Management, Department of Hydro-met Services and Watershed Management Division presented on the existing plans, policies and strategy on water governance and management, disaster management and mitigations, weather and its information systems in context to Bhutan. Around 35 relevant officials from government agencies and CSOs from Bhutan and India attended the day-long event.

The event was graced by Honorable Secretary of the National Environment Commission Secretariat. Secretary expressed his gratitude and acknowledged RSPN and SaciWATERs for organizing the event, which provided a platform to state actors and non-state actors (CSOs and CBOs) to share and discuss for a collaborative effort on how to take forward the trans-boundary water governance from local level to state level and then to regional level. The event has let a platform to share local trans-boundary concerns with government representatives, enhanced the trust between key stakeholders and improved the understanding of government plans, policies and strategies on water governance and management, disaster management and mitigations, weather and its information systems in context to Bhutan. The event was concluded with day-long field visit to project sites in Punakha and Wangdue Districts on 3^rd March.

Reported by: Tsheten Dorji, Research Associates