Assam govt faces severe fund crunch after flood damages

A top source said that, while the current wave flood damaged over 600 numbers roads and bridges across the state, the state finance department hasn't released fund to the state Public Works Department to repair the damaging infrastructure.

"The Public Works Department has requested the finance department to release fund for repairing the damage infrastructure, but the finance department hasn't taken any appropriate measures," the top source said.

Meanwhile, Assam PWD minister Parimal Suklabaidya said that, a total of 504 kms National Highway, 572 numbers state highways, major roads and district roads were damaged in the devastating flood.

"The flood waters also washed away two bridges, damaging 60 bridges and 86 approach roads in the state," Suklabaidya said.

The department needs around Rs 300 crore to repair the damaged infrastructure, but the department is facing trouble for fund crisis.

Union minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday sanctioned Rs 200 crore for immediate repair of national highways ravaged by flood in Assam.

"But it is not sufficient to repair all damaged infrastructure. The state has over 48,000 km roads and around 36,000 kms are rural roads," the source said.

Recently, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and state finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that, the state has sufficient fund to tackle flood damages and relief.

"Still around Rs 400 crore are lying in the state coffers," Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)