GUWAHATI, July 24 - The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) has called for constitution of a special committee comprising experts to find ways for a permanent solution to Assam�s perennial flood and erosion problems.
AIUDF president and Lok Sabha Member Badruddin Ajmal has also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the State for an on-the-spot assessment of the flood situation.
�The State has been reeling under floods continuously for the last more than one month. This time floodwater has entered many areas which earlier never used to witness inundation. For a long time the people of the State have been demanding of the Central government to declare Assam�s flood and erosion problems as national problems. But their demand has been ignored again and again,� Ajmal said.
He pointed out that Assam faces floods annually during the monsoon season. �Despite this the government never makes preparations beforehand to face the situation. This time also work was not done in time to repair the embankments. The funds allotted for flood prevention schemes were either not properly spent or in cases, even remained unutilised,� said the AIUDF supremo.
He said that a proper survey of the embankments was very necessary but was not carried out.
�Floods occur regularly and then after the rainy season the water levels recede. But every year it leads to large-scale devastation across the State. Agricultural land gets lost permanently. People end up losing their homes and properties and are forced to migrate from one place to another for shelter. Floods bring silt and sand which destroy cultivable land. Lakhs of hectares of farm land have been lost in this manner. No steps have been taken to mitigate this problem,� Ajmal said.
�The Prime Minister should visit the State to make an assessment of the flood and erosion situation in the State. Besides, a high-level committee comprising experts from departments concerned of both the Centre and the State should be constituted to suggest ways on finding a permanent solution to the problem,� the AIUDF leader added.
