Sonowal directs Assam CS to constitute Embankment Protection Committee

At a high-level meeting at his office conference room in Guwahati, Sonowal said that the Embankment Protection Committee to be constituted comprising engineers, experts, youth organisations, NGOs, clubs and socio-cultural organisations will help to avert breaches in embankment with timely intervention.

Sonowal asked the Water Resources Department to go in for thorough and in-depth inspection of the condition of around 1200 embankments covering a stretch of 500 km so that strengthening and repairing of the old embankments could be carried out.

The Assam CM directed the officials of the Water Resources Department to conduct proper inspection of the embankments across the State and submit project estimates within August next so that revetment of the embankments can start from September onwards.

He instructed them to hold review meetings regularly near the site of the embankments.

The Assam CM directed the Water Resources Department to initiate steps to constitute Embankment Monitoring Committee at local level to keep a close eye on the embankments, particularly in susceptible and vulnerable areas to avert any disaster.

Sonowal also advocated for display of all relevant data of embankments for information of the general public.

The Assam CM asked the Chief Secretary to engage employees of other departments apart from the line departments to ensure relief operation round the clock.

Sonowal asked DGP Mukesh Sahay to ensure police patrolling round the clock in the flood affected areas so that anti-social elements cannot take advantage of the situation.

On other hand the Assam CM said that the State needs a comprehensive water resources management policy and latest technology and know-how to find a permanent solution of the flood and erosion problems in the State. Towards this end, experts and engineers have to play a pivotal role.

Inaugurating a Workshop on 100-day Agenda of Water Resources Department at Assam Water Research and Management Institute at Basistha in Guwahati on Saturday, Sonowal said that river experts and engineers can prepare a roadmap for durable solution of the flood and erosion problems in the State.

“The State has been plagued with the perennial problems of flood and erosion since 1951. Flood and erosion problems have acted as spanner in the wheels of development, the Chief Minister pointed out that to usher in overall development of Assam and welfare of its people, durable solution has to be found out. To make this happen, Water Resources, river experts and engineers have to play pro-active role by formulating a comprehensive roadmap to tackle flood and erosion effectively,” Sonowal said.

Extending his Government’s all-out support and cooperation to the experts and engineers, Sonowal said that  it augurs well that World Bank and Asian Development Bank have come forward to mitigate the flood and erosion problems. It is against this backdrop, the Water Resources experts have to come out with a comprehensive roadmap for lasting solution of the twin problems.

“The State has vast water resources and optimum utilisation of the invaluable resources of the Brahmaputra, Barak and its tributaries would make Assam one of the most developed and frontline States of the country,” the Assam CM said.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Water Resources Keshab Mahanta said that the State Government has accorded top priority to finding a permanent solution to the flood and erosion problems.

Dwelling at length on the 100-day Workshop of Water Resources Department, Mahanta said his department has given thrust on management of flood and erosion of Brahmaputra and Barak basins, flood and erosion management of Majuli and Nimatighat, fluvial morphology of Brahmaputra River, sediment management with possibility of dredging by adopting modern technology and rejuvenation of Kollong River.

The Water Resources Minister exuded optimism that the deliberations in the workshop would go a long way in preparing suitable strategies to solve the flood and erosion problems.

Earlier, Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia, in his address, said flood and erosion problems act as impediment in the way of development and Assam’s development in the true sense cannot take place if lasting solution is not arrived at. Latest technology has to be adopted to find solution to the complicated problem.

Additional Chief Secretary, RT Jindal, Chairman, Technical Advisory Committee, Water Resources Department, AK Mitra, World Bank representative, Dr. Raj Singh and Dr. Anju Gour, representative, Asian Development Bank, Nasukh Tetsuka also spoke on the occasion. Principal Secretary, Water Resources Department, Hemanta Narzary, CEO, Flood and River Erosion Management Agency of Assam, Dr. KK Dwivedi and Secretary, Water Resources Department PP Changkakoty and several experts and engineers were present on the occasion.

Earlier, the Assam CM released a souvenir brought out on the occasion. He also inaugurated an exhibition on water resources.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)