NORTH LAKHIMPUR, March 15 - The State Finance Ministry has not released funds meant for various flood management projects (FMPs), and therefore work related to flood control may not be completed before the monsoon season, the All Assam Water Resources Contractors� Association (AAWRCA) said.
Addressing the media at the North Lakhimpur Press Club on Wednesday, AAWRCA president Muhi Borgohain said the amount of Rs 824 crore allotted for the Water Resources Department in the 2018-19 Budget was insufficient.
The contractors� association said the Water Resources Department had asked for Rs 1,254.25 crore for FMPs in exchange for centrally-funded projects, and alleged that the budgetary allocation this time reflected the negligence towards this department by the Finance Ministry.
The AAWRCA said Rs 2,013.8 crore was allocated for 48 projects under the 11th Plan and 41 projects under the 12th Plan. Though the Finance Ministry released Rs 759.55 crore against that amount, the rest was yet to be paid. With no funds, the contractors said it would be extremely difficult for them to complete the ongoing 41 FMPs before the monsoon.
They also said that as per guidelines, no Central fund could be released before the state release its share and an amount of Rs 112.35 crore, which was allocated in the 2016-17 financial year as the state�s share, was yet to be paid.
