GUWAHATI, Aug 11 - Members of the State Assembly today called for a substantial increase in the fund allocation to tackle the flood and erosion problem of the State.
Taking part in a discussion on a cut motion that continued since yesterday, Ajanta Neog of the Congress suggested forming an expert committee with national and international river experts for a thorough study and scientific solution of the problem, specifically designed according to the needs of the State.
She further highlighted the need for long-term measures, which would require the Centre�s assistance.
�Against the national average of 10.2 per cent, Assam�s 40 per cent land area has been affected due to floods,� she said. Neog, however, lauded the initiative taken by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to use the oil royalty for rehabilitation of the flood victims.
BJP legislator Teras Goala said that unless the Department of Water Resources is strengthened with adequate funds, no minister or bureaucrat with the best of the intentions can solve the problem.
Dr Numal Momin of the BJP suggested small boards for flood and erosion control measures for all the tributaries. Satyabrata Kalita of the AGP emphasised the need of reconstructing the embankments and suggested revenue generation through regulated sand extraction from the rivers. Congress� Rupjyoti Kurmi also stated that the fund given to the State Water Resources Department is insufficient to solve the problem.
Stressing the need to reconstruct the embankment outliving their lifespan, BJP�s Sanjay Kishan said that timely steps were not taken by the previous government to strengthen the embankments. He also said that timely steps were not taken to check the widespread corruption in construction of the embankments and porcupine spur.
Among other legislators who participated in the discussion were Abdul Khaleque, Gurujyoti Das, Ganesh Kumar Limbu, Ashwini Sarkar and Ananta Kumar Malo.
