Recognizing the magnitude and complexity of the problem of floods and its disastrous consequences in the North Eastern Region, the Brahmaputra Board, a statutory body was set up by the Govt. of India under an Act. of Parliament i.e. Brahmaputra Board, Act, 1980 (46 of 1980) under the Ministry of Irrigation (now renamed as Ministry of Water Resources). The jurisdiction of the Board includes both the Brahmaputra and Barak valleys and covers all the States of the North Eastern Region either in full or in part. The Board consists of 21 Members out of which 4

are full time Members and 17 are part time Members representing seven States of the North Eastern Region, North Eastern Council, concerned Ministries viz. Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, Finance, Power and Surface Transport and few departments of Government of India viz. Central Water Commission, Geological Survey of India, India Meteorological Department and Central Electricity Authority.

The Board office started functioning with Head Quarter at Guwahati with effect from 11th January 1982.