WB to extend help tackle floods in Assam

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

Guwahati, July 22: World Bank (WB) will bear the entire expenses for the visit of Expert Committee to Chi to study the magement of Hwang Ho River. The World Bank will extend technical expertise, know-how and funding to Government of Assam to control flood and erosion of the Brahmaputra and turn the mighty river into that of immense resources.This was decided in a meeting of the delegation of the World Bank with Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal at his office chamber at Assam Legislative Assembly here today.The delegation told the Chief Minister that taming rivers like Mekong, Mississippi and Brahmaputra pose a great challenge. ‘Brahmaputra River cannot be compared to any other river and efforts will be made by the World Bank to bolster the anti-erosion measures initiated by the Government with technical expertise and know-how to turn it into that of immense resources,” the delegation pointed out.Acknowledging the fact that controlling Brahmaputra River is a Herculean task, Chief Minister Sonowal said the State Government has accorded priority to solving the problems of flood and erosion and help from the World Bank would give the much-needed impetus. Pointing out to the tremendous water resources potential of the State, the Chief Minister said, “The State Government wants to make the economic edifice strong, vibrant and resilient by controlling the Brahmaputra.”

Sonowal said many affected people whose land was gobbled up by the Brahmaputra pushing them to penury view the river as that of sorrow. “The State Government wants to change the negative perception of scores of affected people towards the Brahmaputra River which constitutes the lifeline of the State and turn it into that of happiness and prosperity by according top priority to the problems of flood and erosion,” he said. The Chief Minister emphatically pointed out that besides building the economic foundation of the State on the vast resources of the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers, the State Government has also accorded priority towards strengthening the Inland Water Transport system.The Government of Assam has submitted a comprehensive Assam Flood Erosion and River Magement Modernisation Project to the tune of Rs 1500 crore to the Central Government. The Centre has made an in-depth evaluation of the project and handed over to the World Bank for necessary sanction. 

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