Floods are the most common water-induced hazard in the Hindu Kush Himalayas and have seriously affected the lives and livelihoods of many people, especially those living in the Brahmaputra and Koshi river basins.

This document contains the presentation by Partha J Das of Aaranyak, Guwahati (Assam) on "Green clearance to HEPs in NE India: Issues and concerns", at
the Anil Agarwal Dialogues on green clearances organised by CSE at New Delhi during February 24 - 25, 2012.

Vulnerability and Environmental Security are fast emerging as frontline research areas in the realm of global change and earth system science in a world driven mainly by globalisation and climate change. It is worthwhile to consider some basic concepts of vulnerability literature before embarking on to explore the sources and extent of water and climate-induced vulnerability in northeast India.