Rush funds for storm-lashed: Sonowal

All broken embankments to be repaired by  March  31

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Feb 24: With a thunder storm lashing some regions killing as many as three persons, besides flattening thousands of houses, in the State in the recent past, Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal today directed the Revenue and Disaster Magement Department to release funds for providing relief to the people affected.

The Chief Minister also directed the Water Resource Department to repair all the breached and damaged embankments by March 31, 2017.  Assam witnesses pre-monsoon rains from April.

The storm, accompanied by heavy rains with wind speed of about 70 km per hour, lasted nearly 30 minutes and uprooted several large trees and electricity poles in several parts of the Tinsukia. Most parts of the state plunged into darkness with power supply badly hit as trees fell on high-tension wires and electric poles were uprooted. There was also heavy shower in the upper Assam districts. The worst affected districts are Tinsukia, gaon and Sonitpur. Road communication was severely disrupted in several areas.

Presiding over a review meeting of Water Resource Department at the conference hall of his office today, Sonowal urged the people of the state to extend full cooperation for timely completion of all the schemes of the Water Resource Department. Directing the deputy commissioners to keep fund ready for providing timely relief during floods, Sonowal instructed the Water Resource Department to take all precautiory measures for initiating swift action during floods.  The Chief Minister also directed the Revenue and Disaster Magement Departments to release fund to ensure quick relief.

At today’s review meeting, the Water Resource Department apprised of the Chief Minister that 5 of 98 schemes have been complete and speedy works being carried out for completing the rest. A total fund of Rs 203.56 crore has been allotted for the schemes. Also a total of Rs 141.998 crore for 70 additiol schemes has been approved. The department informed him that during the current year the target is to repair 14.772 km of embankments, restore 165.009 km of embankments affected by erosion and strengthen 47.758 km of aging embankments.     

The 70 schemes will cover the breach closing works of embankments at Muwamari (Morigaon), Angarjur (Cachar), Gagalmari (Barpeta) and Pakakhata (Bongaingaon). The schemes will also encompass the restoration work of critical areas affected by erosion at Dakhin Ahatguri (Majuli), Baghbar (Barpeta), Panikhaiti (Boko) and Fakirganj (Dhubri).   

State Cultural Affairs Minister ba Kumar Doley, Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia, Commissioner and Secretary to Chief Minister Sanjay Lohia and other top officials of Water Resource Department, Revenue and Disaster Magement Department were present at the meeting.

State Water Resources Minister Keshab Mahanta, talking to newsmen yesterday, said that all the schemes of the department that began in December 2016 would be completed by March 31 this year. “Some of the schemes have already been completed,” he said.