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Minister reviews measures on tackling floods

By Staff Correspondent

JORHAT, April 25 - State Water Resources and Science and Information Technology Minister Keshab Mahanta visited Majuli on Friday and reviewed the preparations by the Majuli district administration to tackle possible floods.

A Majuli district administration official stated that Mahanta on Friday evening chaired a meeting attended by officials of the district administration, Water Resources department and Brahmaputra Board at the Deputy Commissioner�s office at Garmur. The Minister reviewed the progress of work carried out under several schemes to tackle floods and check erosion.

Mahanta directed the authorities of the Water Resources department and the Brahmaputra Board to immediately resume work on embankments and to prevent erosion under 10 schemes, which were suspended due to the lockdown. He directed the officials to complete the work before the rainy season.

He later told the media that the district administration will be facing a dual challenge of continuing with the fight against COVID-19 and also the annual floods that hit the Brahmaputra island during the rainy season every year.

Doomdooma Correspondent adds: Water Resources Minister Keshab Mahanta visited Tinsukia on Thursday evening and held a review meeting on the need of immediate repair of all sensitive embankments in the district before the floods.

Tinsukia Deputy Commissioner Bhaskar Pegu, Superintendent of Police Siladitya Chetia, Lakhimpur Lok Sabha member Pradan Baruah and Sadiya legislator Bolin Chetia were present.

The Minister said discussions were going on regarding pre-flood preparations, because due to COVID-19 and the lockdown, all departments were having issues in completing their targets.

He also reviewed the status of schemes being executed by the department and directed that ongoing schemes should be completed at the earliest. In cases where tender process has been completed, the contractors may be directed to start the work immediately instead of waiting for the work order.

Mahanta said erosion was the main problem and Geo bags and other protection works have to be completed in the vulnerable areas, including Sisimi and 8th Mile in Sadiya.

In Berakuri, a scheme is being temporarily held up as the area falls under the eco-sensitive zone and the Minister instructed the officials to take up the issue with the Forest department and complete the scheme at the earliest. He also said that in vulnerable areas, if required, contractors may be allowed to hire more workers and even work in double shifts to complete the schemes.

Later, addressing the media, Mahanta said the repair work should have been started much before, but the lockdown gave a serious jolt to the process. The government would take all possible measures to relieve the people from the onslaught of the floods, he said.

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