Assam Flood: Rs 1,000 Crore For Repair of Infrastructure Damage
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Various departments will require Rs 1,000 crore for repair of infrastructure damages in the current spate of floods. Revealing this to media on Wednesday after a high-level meeting here, Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma added, “As of July 24, the total infrastructure damages owing to floods have been estimated at Rs 1,000 crore. The government will place this as a Supplementary Demand (Additional budgetary provision) on the floor of the Assembly (commencing from July 26) seeking the approval of the House.”
He further stated that the PWD department has placed a need for Rs 335 crore which is its highest till date; the PHE department needs Rs 70 crore; and the Agriculture department requires Rs 35 crore; while the Water Resources department will need more money for the repair of the 30 embankments that have been breached till date.”
Sarma pointed out that the infrastructure damage review meeting has decided that not just the breached portion but the entire respective embankment would be fortified.”
Besides Minister Sarma, the meeting was also attended by Water Resources Minister Keshab Mahanta, Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, PHE Minister Rihon Daimary, Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya and Revenue Minister (State) Bhabesh Kalita besides top officials of the respective departments.