Embankments Will Now Double up as Viable Road Networks

* Each contractor must maintain completed project for at least three years

* Rs 5000 crore World Bank project to tackle anti-erosion projects in State on cards

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The new embankments across Assam will be constructed using rollers — as is done by the PWD — so that the embankments of rivers and tributaries double up as viable land communication networks. Besides, the contractors of Water Resources Department will have to maintain the embankments for at least three years. This new provision will be added in the contract agreements. This is in line with the Prime Minister’s Gram Swarak Yojana, where the contractors have to maintain the roads that they build for a continuous period of five years. Besides, work of a single embankment will have to be undertaken by one contractor so that responsibility can be pinpointed.

Informing this in the Assam Assembly on Tuesday, Water Resources Minister Keshab Mahanta said, “Earlier there were instances when even up to 250 contractors used to be engaged to construct a single embankment in the State under the flood management programme scheme. But this system led to various problems in the department.

“For instance, if a particular contractor failed to complete his portion of the allotted work, the entire embankment suffered. It also led to technical issues as the State government, in such circumstances, could not submit the completion certificate to the Central government. On the other hand, the department could not pay those contractors who did complete their portions of any project.

“Hence, the Water Resources Department decided to bring in the new norms in construction of embankments.”

The Minister further pointed out, “The Water Resources Department will get a project from the World Bank (WB) to construct such embankments and also initiate anti-erosion measures among others. The project would be of approximately Rs 5,000 crore. While the WB will fund Rs 3,500 crore, the remaining will have to be funded by the Assam government.”

The project will cover several rivers and tributaries of the Brahmaputra including Buridehing, Jiadhal, Beki, Manas, Singra, and Aie. The preliminary project reports have been already prepared, he added.

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