NEW DELHI, April 30 � Assam Congress has called for declaring erosion as a national problem.
In a letter to Union Minister for Water Resources Paban Kumar Bansal, Congress Lok Sabha Chief whip Paban Singh Ghatowar said erosion is one of the major problems of Assam.
The State has lost 4 lakh hectares of cultivable land and it has affected nearly 9 lakh people. This is national problem. Erosion must be recognised as natural calamities.
The erosion problem of Rohmoria has become a major cause of concern resulting in immense loss of valuable land properties of the area and become a real threat to Dibrugarh town and its surrounding areas including Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh University, Mohanbari Airport Chabua Air Force Station, Army cantonment, many tea estates including vital oil installation.
The socio-economic development of the region is totally dependent on the proper land and water management in the Brahmaputra basin. Recurring flood havoc and perpetual erosion in the Brahmaputra basin calls for establishment of an autonomous authority in the model of TVA or DVC.
Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh during his visit to Assam in November 2004 announced various development programmes including projects to establish a autonomous, self-contained entity called the Brahmaputra Valley Authority on the North East Water Resources Authority to provide effective flood control, generate electricity, provide irrigation facilities.
The PMO vide U.O. No. 10/14/2004-NESC dated 30.11.04 directed MoWR to take up follow-up action for establishing a self-contained entity in the North East Region.
The National Hydro-electric power corporation has taken up Subansiri Lower Hydro-Electric Project as a part of the development of the Subansiri River. However, the provision for flood moderation in this project is minimal.
Ghatowar drew MoWR�s attention to China�s bid to divert Brahmaputra river water. Diversion from this river system by China could result in reduction of flow particularly during the lean flow season and would not only affect generation from existing and proposed hydroelectric schemes.
