Centre clears Rs 256.55-cr flood projects

GUWAHATI, Oct 25: Union Water Resources Ministry has accorded investment clearance against implementation of five flood and erosion magement projects in Assam with an expenditure of Rs. 256.55 crore.

Union Water Resources and Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari informed this to Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal when the later met him at Transport Bhawan in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Gadkari said that the Water Resources Ministry has accorded investment clearance for implementation of three FMP projects in Dibrugarh district and one each in Morigaon and Kokrajhar districts. The approved schemes include Integrated Flood & Erosion Risk Magement Project at Rohmoria, projects for anti-erosion measures at Bar Dirak and -chumoni as well as Sassoni Tingkhong in Dibrugarh district, construction of dyke along river bank from Dhankhunda to Gobardhan hills in Morigaon district and erosion protection work of river Aie.

Sonowal impressed upon the Union minister to ensure early release of funds for the ongoing Flood Magement Programmes. He also requested him to announce a special package to carry out new FMP schemes.

Sonowal also drew attention of the Union minister about the poor condition of tiol highways and urged him to take expeditious measures for early completion of four lane works in the state. The Chief Minister also informed him about the Global Investors Summit to be held in February, 2018 and requested him to take steps to complete repairing the tiol Highways for seamless transportation before the summit takes off.

Gadkari, while assuring the Chief Minister of taking urgent measures, said that both NHAI and NHIDCL would work in tandem to accomplish the work. He also directed VK Rajawat, Technical Director, NHIDCL to visit Assam and station in Guwahati to supervise the construction works.

The duo also discussed the construction of Express Highway along both banks of river Brahmaputra. During the discussion, Gadkari asked the State Government to prepare an Integrated Approach Plan involving all line departments for carrying out the project. The Union minister expressed the view that once the express highway becomes a reality, it would work as advance transport network and protection measure against flood & erosion in Assam. He also said that funding for the IAP would be made by the Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.

During the course of discussion, dredging of the Brahmaputra River was also raised by the Chief Minister. Regarding dredging, Gadkari said that two more dredgers would be pressed into service apart from the four dredgers which are already stationed in the Brahmaputra and dredging will start from Sadia next month.

State Water Resources Minister Keshav Mahanta, PWD Minister Parimal Suklabaidya and several other senior officials of central and state governments were also present in the discussion.