By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, June 28: The World Bank and the Earth Institute of Columbia University, New York will provide all possible help to Assam in its fight against flood and erosion problem in the State.

A high-level delegation led by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had several rounds of discussion with different agencies on key issues for finding a solution to the problems of flood and erosion in Assam in Washington DC on Wednesday, an official said here on Thursday.  

“The World Bank has shown a keen interest in supporting a study of the Brahmaputra from its point of origin to the end point so that an effective strategy can be adopted for harnessing the water resource of the river for not only tackling floods and erosion, but also for optimal use of theresource for agriculture, irrigation, drinking water, et al,” said theofficial.  The official further stated that the Earth Institute of Columbia University, New York would help the Assam State Disaster ManagementAuthority in evaluating the current flood early warning system.

Chief Minister Gogoi in his meeting with Dr Jeffrey Sachs, Director Earth Institute, Columbia University expressed his concern for taking a wider approach to the water issue so that it not only includes flood and erosion management but also the water requirement for agriculture, particularly in the lean winter period.