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Matmora dyke work yet to be completed

By Ajit Patowary

GUWAHATI, April 28 � The 1,200 geo-tubes proposed for the Matmora protection project have been laid. However, the laying of the geo-fabric carpet proposed to cover the five-kilometre-long dyke is yet to be completed. Only 3.6 km length of the dyke has so far been covered with the geo-fabric carpet.

It needs mention here that the deadline to complete the Matmora protection project was March 31 last. The project was undertaken as a pilot project with foreign technical support, at a cost of around Rs 142-crore. Malaysian company Emaskiara is implementing the project.

Initially, the Malaysian company was asked to complete the project within 100 days � that is, July 15, 2009. Later, the deadline was extended to March 31 last. Now April 30 next has been fixed as the final deadline to complete the project and in case the Malaysian company fails to complete the project on or before April 30, it will be subjected to penalties as per the tender agreement, said official sources here.

According to the official sources, due to the �incessant rains,� the laying of the geo-aprons along the affected reach of the Brahmaputra bank in Matmora area has remained incomplete.

Out of the proposed 1,400 tubes to be laid for the purpose, only around 300 tubes could be laid so far. For completing this part of the project, April 30 has been fixed as the deadline, source said.

The porcupine screens installed along the affected reach of the river bank have, however, been found to be effective so far and these have been able to push the course of the Brahmaputra away from the river bank, said the sources.

Flood: Meanwhile, with the incessant pre-monsoon rains, floodwaters of the rivers have started affecting the people in various areas of the State. The Brahmaputra backwater has entered some localities of Dhekiajuli area in Sonitpur district through the breached portion of the Dhansiri dyke and the Singara floodwater has also inundated some localities in Naoboicha area of Lakhimpur district.

Sources said that the Singara water could enter the Naoboicha areas through the breached portions of the dykes built by the panchayats. As rains are pouring in incessantly, repairs of the dykes could not be completed. Moreover, the Singara has also changed its course in Naoboicha area, said the sources.

The Samarajan floodwater has again damaged a portion of the Bailey bridge built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in Dhemaji district. This has snapped road communication between Dhemaji and the rest of the State through the NH-52.

The floodwater of the Palla has inundated several villages in Kaljhar area near Bhawanipur in Barpeta district. The Palla is a stream of the Beki river.

Floodwaters of the Singla and Longai have inundated some areas in Karimganj district. The floodwaters of the rivers have entered the countryside through the breaches in the dykes that occurred last year. The Singla has five breaches in its dykes, while the Longai has one breach in one of its dykes.

However, with the improvement in the weather condition during the past couple of days, flood scenario in the State is improving, said the sources.

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