Flood & erosion: CM calls for lasting solution

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, July 30: Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal on Saturday said the State needs a comprehensive water resources magement policy and latest technology and know-how to find a permanent solution to its flood and erosion problem. Towards this end, experts and engineers have to play a pivotal role, he said.

Iugurating a Workshop on 100-Day Agenda of Water Resources department at Assam Water Research and Magement Institute at Basistha here, Sonowal said river experts and engineers can prepare a roadmap for durable solution to the flood and erosion problems in the State.

The CM said the State has been plagued with the perennial problems of flood and erosion since 1951. He pointed out that to usher in overall development of the State and welfare of its people, permanent solution is a must. To make this happen, the Water Resources department, river experts and engineers have to play pro-active roles by formulating a comprehensive roadmap to tackle flood and erosion effectively.

Extending his government’s all-out support and cooperation to experts and engineers, the Chief Minister said it augurs well that World Bank and Asian Development Bank have come forward to mitigate the flood and erosion problems. It is against this backdrop that the water resources experts have to come out with a comprehensive roadmap for lasting solution of the twin problems.

Sonowal said the State has vast water resources and optimum utilisation of the invaluable resources of the Brahmaputra, Barak and its tributaries would make Assam one of the most developed and frontline States of the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Water Resources Keshab Mahanta said the State government has accorded top priority to finding a permanent solution to the flood and erosion problems.

Dwelling at length on the 100-day Workshop of Water Resources department, Mahanta said his department is giving thrust to magement of flood and erosion of Brahmaputra and Barak basins, flood and erosion magement of Majuli and Nimatighat, fluvial morphology of the Brahmaputra, sediment magement with possibility of dredging by adopting modern technology, and rejuvetion of the Kollong River.

The Water Resources Minister exuded optimism that the deliberations in the workshop would go a long way in preparing suitable strategies to solve the flood and erosion problems.

Earlier, Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia, in his address, said flood and erosion problems act as impediment in the way of development, and Assam’s development in the true sense cannot take place if lasting solution is not arrived at. Latest technology has to be adopted to find solution to the complicated problem, he said.