Water Resource department to take up new erosion protection project
FROM A CORRESPONDENT
Jorhat, April 29: Chief Engineer of State Water Resource department Rajen Das visited the erosion-affected areas in Sivasagar and Jorhat district on Friday and took stock of the situation here.
Talking to The Sentinel he said, “I have visited two erosion affected points of Dikhow river in Sivasagar and one of Brahmaputra river in Jorhat district and witnessed the situation there. I have directed the officials of both the districts to take required measures in the affected areas.”
He also said, “I have directed the top officials of Jorhat division to prepare a proposal for a permanent project for Brahmaputra erosion at Jhanjimukh immediately.”
The chief engineer however said due to lack of funds no permanent schemes would be taken up in the erosion affected areas as per requirement.
“Now we have no permanent project to take up in the erosion affected areas. We have to take up some temporary measures with limited funds to protect the affected areas from erosion,” he said.
Earlier state Water Resource Minister Basanta Das on Wednesday said the Centre has yet to release Rs.1,250 crores erosion protection funds for Assam and for which the state government has not taken up adequate erosion protection measures in the State.
Visiting the erosion affected areas at Neematighat in Jorhat district, the minister said the centre has released only Rs. 19 crores in 2015 and Rs.21 crores in 2016 taking up erosion protection measures in the state.
“The Centre has yet to release Rs.1250 crore erosion protection funds for the state and as result our government is uble to take up adequate measures in the affected areas as requirements. We are taking steps only with the state share funds due to the centre’s iction on the matter,” he said.
He added, “We have been taking up all possible steps for the protection of affected areas from erosion by Brahmaputra and other rivers in the state. We have also released funds for taking up erosion protection measures this year too and accordingly works are on.”
The minister had visited Dainigaon areas, located on the outskirts of Jorhat town on the southern bank of river Brahmaputra and took stock of the situation there. He also assured the affected villagers to take needful steps for protection from erosion at the earliest.
