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Rs 115-cr anti-erosion project gets clearance

By Spl Correspondent

NEW DELHI, Feb 1 � Decks have been cleared for execution of the crucial phase of the Majuli Island Protection Project aimed at ensuring protection of sattras, with the Planning Commission on Wednesday sanctioning investment clearance for implementation of the Phase II and III of the anti-eorsion project at an estimated cost of Rs 115.99 crore.

The project aims at protecting 22 sattras and public and private properties, as well as ensuring economic development and social uplift after reconstruction of roads and bridges usually destroyed during floods. The Vaishnavite tradition and culture � the heritage of Assamese people will also be preserved. The tribal population which is about 70 per cent of the total population will be the main beneficiary in terms of economic and social development, an official spokesman said.

The project is targeted for completion by the 2011-12 fiscal and the accounts will be closed by March 31. The project may be executed as per the approved outlays in the current financial year, the Commission has ruled.

The Commission has also directed the nodal agencies not to exceed the estimated expenditures. The Ministry of Water Resources and the Brahmaputra Board will restrict the expenditure to the approved cost and no additional expenditure beyond the approved cost may be permitted unless the revised estimate gets approved following the prescribed procedure, the order said.

Regular maintenance should be ensured by the Ministry of Water Resources and the Brahmaputra Board before and after each monsoon season and even during the execution of works. Detailed estimates of various components should be prepared after detailed surveys and got sanctioned by the competent authority and no changes be done in the proposal without the approval of the Standing Committee of Experts.

In case of major variation in cost due to changes in the problem area on account of morphological changes in the river, modified proposal and revised estimate will be furnished, Commission has said.

The techno-economic protection of Majuli Island Protection Project (Phase II and III) was cleared on the basis of a model study. The original estimate was for Rs 115.03 crore. The work on the project is going on and 29.30 per cent of the project has been completed till November at a cost Rs 30.75 crore.

The Phase I of the project work of Majuli island has been completed in April, last at a cost of Rs 53.40 crore.

A detailed note on the project was prepared at the request of the high powered review board and the Additional Secretary of MoWR and chairman of the Brahmaputra Board has been tasked to submit a report and it has been decided to expedite the protection works for which an amount of Rs 41.28 crore has been sanctioned.

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