Water Resources Department to Develop Accountability Mechanism: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
GUWAHATI:
Water Resources Department Works Review: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has directed the Water Resources Department to develop an accountability mechanism to ensure judicious utilisation of public money.
The Chief Minister reviewed the functioning of the Water Resources Department in a meeting at his office conference room at Janata Bhawan on Monday and directed the officials to take urgent steps to complete the maximum of the ongoing schemes within this month to minimize the damage caused by flood to people and property.
The Chief Minister also asked the department to identify the vulnerable points in the embankments across the State and carry out strengthening on a war footing while completing the breach closing works at the earliest. He stressed the quality and timely completion of projects and suggested the department prioritize works to ensure the best use of financial and human resources.
Stating that dredging could bring satisfactory results in reducing the impact of flood, the Chief Minister directed the department to identify rivers that cause maximum havoc during the flood and examine the feasibility of dredging on those rivers.
Further suggesting a fundamental shift in the functioning of the water resources department, Chief Minister Sarma asked the senior officials to take up a time-bound and technology-oriented approach while implementing flood protection and repairing schemes.
The Chief Minister instructed the department to submit a draft proposal outlining the areas for improvement apart from innovative and technologically sound systems to make the department more efficient.
Water Resources Minister Pijush Hazarika, Additional Chief Secretary of WR Department S Abbasi and others were present at the review meeting, a press release said.