By our Staff Reporter

DIBRUGARH, July 6: The government came under fire over their handling of the flood situation during a press meet addressed by former Dibrugarh MP, Sarbananda Sonowal, held at the party office of the Dibrugarh district unit of BJP today.

 The demand to declare flood as a National problem was reiterated at the press meet. Sonowal said that the government has failed to tackle the flood situation in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts. Coming down heavily on the Center for failing to keep its promise of undertaking the geo-bag project, along the nine kilometer stretch from Bogoritola to Oakland in Rohmoria, he stated that it should be fulfilled immediately to save Dibrugarh.

 The deposition of silt on farmland has made the fields unsuitable for cultivation and each family so affected must be given five bighas of land, the BJP National Secretary added.

While asserting that the aid package of Rs 500 crore was not enough, Sonowal called for more funds. Stating that the development funds are hardly properly utilized, he demanded a monitoring committee constituted by people from all walks of life, including intellectuals and experts, to ensure the proper implementation of the scheme. The former Dibrugarh MP also challenged the Chief Minister to prove his sincerity towards solving the flood problem by preparing a detailed plan for its permanent solution and making it public. He called for placing of the plan before the Union government with the demand for declaration of flood as National problem. .

Sonowal also drew attention to the rural economy, which has been left devastated after the flood. He said that the government should work to bring it back to its feet. The Dibrugarh MLA, Prasanta Phukan, and other office bearers of the district unit of BJP were present during the press meet.