DIPHU, Aug 24 - The Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) has taken a unique step to boost its administrative machinery. The KAAC organised its first review meeting to assess the performance of various departments and learn their lacunas.
In the first review meeting, five departments were put under strict scrutiny at the Joysing Doloi auditorium. The meeting was presided over by Chief Executive Member (CEM) of KAAC, Tuliram Ronghang. Forest, Irrigation, Public Health Engineering, PWD, Water Resource departments featured in the first review meeting.
Elected members of the Autonomous Council and the Executive Members were also present in the meeting. They gave a first-hand account of performances of their departments. Amarsing Tisso, who is currently holding five portfolios, gave a short and neat statement about Irrigation and Water Resource Department.
Intervening from the chair, Tuliram Ronghang, mentioned that Irrigation Department has utilised Central and State share of fund up to the maximum limit. �Ninety per cent works of 124 schemes have been completed, but in aggregate we have received just 52 per cent fund till now. We are expecting that the government will release rest of the fund and the ongoing litigations in the court will come to a logical conclusion so that we can release the contractors� payments,� he said.
�In Karbi Anglong, the Water Resource Department has to deal with seven major rivers and nearly 20 minor streams. The major rivers have inter-State and inter-district border lines, protecting river erosion and utilising its resource is a major task. We are mooting the option of increasing the strength of executive officers and staffs and mobilising additional fund for taking up major schemes. As desired by the CEM, I am exploring the option of constituting a Technical Advisory Committee under the control of KAAC, which is at present controlled from Barak Valley,� Ronghang added.
The other step which we want to take up is to obtain fund from the Department of Natural Calamities and Environmental Impact. With the recommendation of Technical Advisory Committee, we will be able to propose for schemes higher than our current proposals. We have sent 14 proposals to State Disaster Relief Fund worth Rs 4,093 lakh, but it�s quite insufficient considering the vast requirement.
Amarsing Tisso, Executive Member of KAAC and in-charge of Water Resource Department, told the gathering of public representatives and bureaucrats that the flood period in the region starts from mid part of May and continues till October and our priority will be to complete the protection works before May. To reduce flood inundation in areas like Mahamaya, Nomati, Howraghat, Kharkanthi (MAC constituency), effective steps will be taken up for enhancing the performance of the department.
The KAAC is considering to create separate divisions of the department for Karbi Anglong (East), West Karbi Anglong and Bokajan.