GUWAHATI, July 2 � Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today urged Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to immediately release Rs 11,316 crore as immediate and medium term assistance to the state to bail out the State from the crisis it is facing due to floods and erosions. He demanded Rs 1100 crore for rehabilitation of the flood and erosion affected families as a part of total amount of Rs 2526 crore as immediate support.
In a memorandum to the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister called for a medium term assistance of Rs 8,790 crore, which include Rs 2,460 crore for strengthening and raising of embankments, Rs 4,630 crore for National Highway projects and Rs 700 crore for mitigating flood related water logging in Guwahati city.
The Chief Minister called for release the balance of Government of India�s share of State Disaster Response Fund worth Rs 386.36 crore for 2011-12 and the first installment of the current financial year. The Chief Minister also called for support of Rs 600 crore from the Central Government for restoration of State roads.
Besides, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways should sanction Rs 80 crore for immediate flood damage restoration of the National Highways placed under the State PWD.
The Chief Minister also called for steps to release Rs 100 crore for temporary restoration of embankments, Rs 20 crore for restoration of National Parks and sanctuaries, Rs 30 crore for rescue boats, Rs 10 crore for restoration of water supply and drainage, Rs 200 crore for construction of raised platforms etc.
He also called for conducting a scientific study of the Brahmaputra river system involving international experts and agencies. Since the river Brahmaputra flows through a number of countries, international cooperation is required for developing an overall flood early warning system. In addition, international cooperation is required for equitable sharing of water resources and prior intimation of any development on the river by any other country that may have an adverse impact on our country and State. This is necessary to ensure adequate flow of water in the Brahmaputra river, said the memorandum.
Gogoi also called for an effective early flood warning system by covering the entire catchment area of all the rivers with Doppler radars, automated weather stations and remote sensing systems. Information regarding rainfall in China, Bhutan and Myanmar on real time basis is critical and therefore it is necessary to develop an international framework for sharing information by these countries with India. The presence of Central Water Commission in Assam also needs to be strengthened, said Gogoi.
As a long term solution to the rise in the river bed of Brahmaputra, the Chief Minister called for large scale dredging of the river and its tributaries. He also reiterated the demand of the State for constitution of North East Water Resources Authority.
