The overall objective of this joint M/DONER – World Bank Study is to develop a vision for the development and management of water and related natural resource / environmental issues in the Northeast for sustainable and equitable growth.

After initial discussions at New Delhi, Experts were mobilized by the World Bank for preparation of sector specific Papers.  After the draft Papers were in place, a Regional Consultation Workshop was organized jointly by the Ministry of DoNER and the World Bank at Guwahati from 10-11 November 2005.  Besides representatives from all the 8 North Eastern State Govts., representatives from the Planning Commission, CWC, Brahmaputra Board, NEC, IWAI, NERIWALM etc. and other stakeholders participated.  The Experts presented the Papers.  Detailed deliberations were held and inputs received taken note of.

Based on the Expert Papers and the inputs received during the Guwahati Workshop, a draft Strategy Report was prepared and circulated amongst all the 8 North Eastern State Govts., the Planning Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Water Resources etc. for their comments.  The draft Strategy Report was also hosted on M/DoNER's website. M/DoNER requested the State Govts. to hold one-day Workshops for wider State level consultations.  The State level consultations were held during April – June, 2006.  M/DoNER funded the State level consultations. Appropriate amendments were made in the draft Report based on inputs received from the State Govts.

The revised draft Strategy Report was discussed further at a National Consultation Workshop at New Delhi from 26 – 27 June 2006.  The Workshop was inaugurated by Shri P.R. Kyndiah, Hon’ble Minister, DoNER and attended among others by Shri Saiffudin Soz, Union Minister for Water Resources, Shri Gegong Apang, Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh and Shri Bharat Chandra Narah, Minister of Water Resources, Govt. of Assam.  Representatives from the Planning Commission, Central Ministries and other stakeholders also participated.  The draft Strategy Report aroused considerable interest.

International Experts from the Tennessee Valley Authority(TVA), USA, the US Corps of Engineers, BC Hydro, Canada, Columbia Basin Trust, Canada and National Water Agency of Brazil made presentations or successful river basin management in their respective countries.  The innovative peoples’ participatory approach followed by the Columbia Basin Trust was of considerable interest to the participants.  The benefit sharing between the US and Canada under the Columbia River Treaty, 1961 was of special significance to the management of river basins in North East India.