RMSI: Development News

The Kopili River is the largest south-bank tributary of the Brahmaputra River. It originates in the Meghalaya State's Borail Hill range and drains an area of about 16,421 sq km. Given the topography of the Kopili River basin, rainfall during monsoon periods, conversion of wetlands for other purposes due to increasing population pressure, and increased backwash where the Kopili River meets the Brahmaputra River, the downstream areas of the Kopili are prone to flooding events.

There are existing embankments that are about 110 km along the Kopili River prior to the tributary merging with the Brahmaputra. However, some of these are old and need to be strengthened through investments. Therefore, APGCL commissioned RMSI as a consulting firm for capacity building to support (i) establishing a resource management system in the Kopili River catchment area and (ii) developing community resilience and disaster risk preparedness.

Objective: The project aims to implement the planned activities under the trust fund in line with international best practices and provide the required deliverables.

Assessment and development of investment plans for strengthening hydrometeorological networks in Cambodia and Lao PDR

The Southeast Asia (SeA) region is highly vulnerable to the impacts of natural hazards. Hydrometeorological hazards, such as strong winds, floods, or droughts, and subsidiary hazards, such as landslides, pose a direct threat to lives and impact livelihoods by damaging and destroying infrastructure, assets, and land. In addition, underlying processes, including climate change impacts, population growth, land use change, and urbanization patterns, are resulting in an increase in the number of people, infrastructure systems and services, livelihoods, and assets in Cambodia and Lao PDR at risk from hydrometeorological hazards. Although the governments of both Cambodia and Lao PDR continue to establish policies and mechanisms to help reduce and mitigate some of the impacts of extreme events and disasters, significant challenges remain. Thus, both countries require immediate preventative action to improve the resilience of vulnerable populations.

The key focus of the services is to conduct a need assessment of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) on strengthening the hydromet networks for end-to-end early warning in Cambodia and Lao PDR and develop investment plans to address the identified needs.

Objective: To enhance the capacities of national and regional stakeholders and institutions to provide hydromet, early warning action, and response services to ensure that vulnerable populations in Cambodia and Lao PDR are reached through effective and inclusive risk-informed early warning services.

Recent Wins

Resource management and disaster resilience on Kopili river, Assam

Assessment and development of investment plans for strengthening hydrometeorological networks in Cambodia and Lao PDR

In Focus

Major Coastal Cities of India are under threat due to the rise in sea level by 2050

Current Development Projects

The Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) climate change vulnerability assessment and development of an adaptation and mitigation strategy

River-Basin Planning for Water Management for Konkan Bhasin

Events

Expert in Focus


<< back Recent Wins Resource management and disaster resilience on Kopili river, Assam Client: Government of Assam The Kopili River is the largest south-bank tributary of the Brahmaputra River. It originates in the Meghalaya State's Borail Hill range and drains an area of about 16,421 sq km. Given the topography of the Kopili River basin, rainfall during monsoon periods, conversion of wetlands for other purposes due to increasing population pressure, and increased backwash where the Kopili River meets the Brahmaputra River, the downstream areas of the Kopili are prone to flooding events. There are existing embankments that are about 110 km along the Kopili River prior to the tributary merging with the Brahmaputra. However, some of these are old and need to be strengthened through investments. Therefore, APGCL commissioned RMSI as a consulting firm for capacity building to support (i) establishing a resource management system in the Kopili River catchment area and (ii) developing community resilience and disaster risk preparedness. Objective: The project aims to implement the planned activities under the trust fund in line with international best practices and provide the required deliverables. Solution: Under this assignment, RMSI will carry out the following tasks: Resource Management Systems in the Kopili River Catchment Area Community Resilience and Disaster Preparedness Reporting and Coordination Assessment and development of investment plans for strengthening hydrometeorological networks in Cambodia and Lao PDR Client: The World Bank The Southeast Asia (SeA) region is highly vulnerable to the impacts of natural hazards. Hydrometeorological hazards, such as strong winds, floods, or droughts, and subsidiary hazards, such as landslides, pose a direct threat to lives and impact livelihoods by damaging and destroying infrastructure, assets, and land. In addition, underlying processes, including climate change impacts, population growth, land use change, and urbanization patterns, are resulting in an increase in the number of people, infrastructure systems and services, livelihoods, and assets in Cambodia and Lao PDR at risk from hydrometeorological hazards. Although the governments of both Cambodia and Lao PDR continue to establish policies and mechanisms to help reduce and mitigate some of the impacts of extreme events and disasters, significant challenges remain. Thus, both countries require immediate preventative action to improve the resilience of vulnerable populations. The key focus of the services is to conduct a need assessment of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) on strengthening the hydromet networks for end-to-end early warning in Cambodia and Lao PDR and develop investment plans to address the identified needs. Objective: To enhance the capacities of national and regional stakeholders and institutions to provide hydromet, early warning action, and response services to ensure that vulnerable populations in Cambodia and Lao PDR are reached through effective and inclusive risk-informed early warning services. Solution: Under this assignment, RMSI will: Strengthen governance mechanisms and enable an environment created for national and regional stakeholders Enhance the capacity of NMHSs to provide forecasts and warnings NMHSs' information and communication technology and capacity strengthening Enhance preparedness and response capability Improve integration of gender and vulnerable groups across the EW-EA value chain In Focus Major Coastal Cities of India are under threat due to the rise in sea level by 2050 Read more... Current Development Projects The Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) climate change vulnerability assessment and development of an adaptation and mitigation strategy Read more... River-Basin Planning for Water Management for Konkan Bhasin Read more...	Events Visit of Scientists and Technologists from IIPA, by the Department of Science & Technology to RMSI 9th Annual CAT RISK Management and Modeling summit 2022 International Conference on Climate and Weather-related Extremes (ICCWE 2022) Expert in Focus Dr. Murari Lal Climate Change Practice Head, RMSI Read more...
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