Poba Reserve Forest to be upgraded to Sanctuary: CM Sarbananda Sonowal

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday reviewed the flood scenario in Jonai at a meeting held at Jonai SDO (Civil) office and announced that Poba Reserve Forest, the vital biodiversity hotspot in Dhemaji, would be upgraded to a wildlife sanctuary, stated a press release.

Poba Reserve Forest, declared in 1924 with an area of 10,522 hectares, is home to a large number of flora and fauna. The Chief Minister today also visited the Outer Jonai and Bera Sapori areas in Jonai and took stock of the devastation caused by flood while interacting with the inmates of a flood relief camp there.

In today's meeting, Sonowal reviewed the flood situation of Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Majuli apart from Jonai and took sock of the progress of various schemes implemented by Water Resources Department. He directed the department to expedite the embankment repairing works to provide protection to the people in those districts from floods. The department was directed to prevent floods caused by Subansiri, Dikrong Rivers at Jamuguri, stop the damage caused at Kenmili embankment in Majuli and floods caused by Siyang River at Jonai among others.

The Chief Minister also stressed on the need to dredge the Brahmaputra River as its water carrying capacity has reduced over the years due to loss of depth and said the Water Resources Department would soon start dredging work. He also opined that strengthening of river management in neighbouring states would also help in preventing floods effectively in Assam and he urged the engineers of Water Resource Department to bring innovation and newer technologies to flood management mechanism in the state.

Sonowal appreciated the action taken by Water Resource Department officials to repair the damaged 150 meter portion of embankment at Bordham under Sisibor Revenue Circle in Dhemaji as the timely work saved the people of the area from devastation of flood.

The Chief Minister took review of COVID-19 scenario in the concerned districts today and took stock of status of implementation of various flagship schemes of Central Government like Jal Jeevan Mission, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna etc.

It is to be mentioned that more than one lakh people of 358 villages in Dhemaji district have been affected by flood this year while 32, 977 hectares of crop lands were also damaged. A total of 859 people have been provided shelter in the 7 flood relief camps set up in the district.

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