STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Assam government is hopeful that the 15th Finance Commission will recommend the devastating erosion problem being faced by the people of the State annually as ‘disaster’. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has already had several meetings with the Chairman of the finance panel in this regard. This was stated by Water Resources Minister Keshab Mahanta during a Cut Motion discussion on the department at the Assembly on Wednesday.
The annual erosions caused by the Brahmaputra and the Barak and their tributaries have already gobbled up thousands of hectares of land over the years. However, the Centre has not yet recognised erosion in Assam as ‘disaster’ though it has accorded that status to the State’s floods caused by its rivers.
EXPRESS HIGHWAYS ON BRAHMAPUTRA BANKS: With reference to the proposed construction of Express Highways on both banks of the Brahmaputra, Minister Keshab Mahanta pointed out that the State Water Resources Department had already placed a detailed study report on the project to the Central government on December 29, 2017. He added that after examining the feasibility of the project, it came to the notice of the experts that it would not be technically feasible owing to a number of hurdles. He also pointed out that one of the reasons is that the width of the Brahmaputra banks varies.
EMBANKMENT ROADS: The Minister, however, stated that there are scopes of building roads on some embankments, adding that the government is presently examining the feasibility of handing over such embankments to the Public Work Department (PWD). If such a project is initiated, not only the embankments would be strengthened but also boost land-surface network across the State, he said.
SANDBANKS: The Minister also informed the House that the Water Resources Department (WRD) has urged the State government to hand over the authority of the State’s river sand and sandbanks to the department. He added that as the WRD does not have such authority over river sand and such sandbanks, lots of issues crop up when various erosion-protection schemes are undertaken.
LGBI AIRPORT: The Minister also stated that the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) airport authority at Borjhar has been already moved to join hands with the Department for initiating measures to solve the artificial floods that are posing serious threats to the international airport and also the Jalukbari area.
REFORMS: Water Resources Department Minister Keshab Mahanta further informed the House that administrative reforms would be undertaken in the department in the days to come.
Also Read: State Minister Keshab Mahanta asks district departments to submit flood report by July 24