Staff Reporter
Guwahati: A project for resettlement of people affected by erosion in Assam was discussed at a State Executive Committee (SEC) of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) meeting held recently. A detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed project costing over Rs 526 crore was approved during the meeting for submission to the Government of India.
The SEC meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary, Assam, approved the DPR for Resettlement of People Affected by Erosion under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) based on the recommendation of the Fifteen Finance Commission. The project will entail resettling people whose houses were destroyed by flood and erosion.
It should be mentioned here that funds under NDRF are wholly borne by the Government of India, with no contribution from the state government concerned.
Further, the SEC approved the following interventions for cluster housing under the project: Construction of houses, water supply, individual household latrine (IHHL), individual solar power supply system for street lights on campus, community hall and organized solid & liquid waste management.
The SEC also directed the Water Resources Department to submit 48 proposals for erosion protection works amounting to Rs.511.83 crore to the Government of India for funding under the Fifteenth (15th) Finance Commission.
Erosion is a perennial problem in Assam, and lakhs of people have been rendered homeless due to the washing away of their homes by floods and the resultant soil erosion that takes place every year. The Water Resources Department is entrusted with flood and erosion protection works like construction and maintenance of river embankments, placing of porcupines, geo-bags, etc.
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