NEW DELHI, June 29 � Accusing Tarun Gogoi Government of failing to exert adequate pressure on Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to resolve the State�s flood and erosion problems, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has held the Congress Government responsible for the delay by the Centre in formally declaring it as a national problem.
Addressing a press conference, former Lok Sabha MP and AGP leader, Sarbananda Sonowal said all major projects and schemes taken up by Brahmaputra Board have been a failure, as proposals for revamping the Board gathers dust and plans to set up Brahmaputra Valley Authority has been shoved into the cold storage.
An AGP delegation led by Sonowal called on Union Minister for Water Resources, Paban Kumar Bansal on Monday to highlight the State�s flood and erosion problem. The Minister has agreed to visit the State during the flood season, he claimed.
Bansal further informed that the proposal to declare the flood and erosion problem as a national problem is under active consideration of the government, Sonowal said.
Stating that Gogoi Government has failed to exploit the situation to its advantage, Sonowal said the timing is ideal because Dr Manmohan Singh represents Assam in the Rajya Sabha and keen to resolve the problems of the State.
He alleged that the Chief Minister takes a casual view of the flood and erosion problem and has failed miserably in taking advantage of having a Prime Minister, who represent the State.
Due to lack of proper planning and scientific study, Gogoi Government has failed to harness the resources of Brahmaputra River. He alleged that Rs 370 crore has been sanctioned for channelising the river by using dredger. Only two of them had been used and now nobody knows where this amount has gone, he added.
Currently, large areas of Barpeta, Baksa, Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon and Dhubri districts are under water following release of water of Kurichu dam in neighbouring Bhutan. Besides, vast areas of the Manas and Kaziranga National Parks and the Pabitora wildlife sanctuary have been submerged.
Two vital embankments of Beki and Mora Pagladiya rivers have also been breached.
