Centre Must Allot Funds for Mitigation of Flood and Erosion Problem: AAUA

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: “The Union Government must release fund for the mitigation of the flood and erosion problem of Assam. In addition, steps must be taken to construct the embankments of the State adopting scientific method.” This demand was raised by the State committee of the All Assam Unemployed Association (AAUA). In connection with the issue, AAUA president-in-charge Dharmendra Deori and general secretary Jiban Rajkhowa stated in a press communique that the flood and erosion was a long-standing problem of the State.

“This problem has caused the worst effect on the economics, geography and cultural sectors of the State. Despite such circumstances, the Union and State governments have kept the problem alive by just repairing the embankments only, without initiating any strong initiative to resolve the same permanently. At present, most of the parts of a total of 119 embankments of the State have remained unplugged despite the Chief Minister instructing the Water Resource Department (WRD) to complete the embankment repair work by March 31. As a result of it, the overflown water of the rivers, penetrating through the unplugged embankments, put the people across the State in a miserable condition by causing an unprecedented flood. The Union Government must allot fund to permanently resolve this burning problem of the State,” the press communique stated.

On the other hand, the organization expressed grave reaction over the cabinet decision taken recently with regard to appointing 150 officials temporarily in the Water Resources Department to repair the damaged embankments. “At a time when a section of contractors and WRD officials has misappropriated the fund meant for the construction of the embankment, when some WRD officers have worked in the same division for more than three years, the State Government cannot ensure the embankment construction on time even by appointing 500 more new officials,” said the AAUA president and secretary in the press communique. So, the organization demanded the State Government to transfer the WRD officials who had worked in the same division for more than three years. Providing adequate relief measures to the flood and erosion victims was also demanded through the same press communique.

Also Read: Relief Materials Distributed Among Flood-Affected People in Pathsala