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Rs 3460-cr proposal to Centre soon

By Staff reporter

GUWAHATI, July 9 � The State Government is soon going to submit a Rs 3460-crore proposal to the Centre for raising and strengthening of embankments and dredging of rivers in the State to tackle the perennial flood problem. This was disclosed by Minister of State for Water Resources Rajib Lochan Pegu while talking with mediapersons here on Monday.

Stressing the need for a special package for tackling the flood problem, Pegu said that raising and strengthening of embankments would be the priority of his department and that out of the 4459 km stretch of embankments in the State, 950 km was presently in extremely vulnerable condition.

�We have identified the stretches of embankment that are in extremely vulnerable condition, in vulnerable condition and those that are reasonably safe,� said Pegu informing that 2390 km is in vulnerable condition.

Pegu said that the department has undertaken the repairing breaches in the embankments and that work of repair of three breaches has been completed already. �We have temporarily repaired the breaches. We have started work at five more breaches and will undertake repairing work of 13 more breaches,� he said adding that rising waters of Brahmaputra, Barak and the tributaries caused 53 breaches in the embankments in the current flood.

Regarding the Majuli flood scenario, the minister said that the Brahmaputra Board has to be revamped so that it can deliver to the people�s expectation.

�The Brahmaputra Board has been given sufficient funds to protect Majuli, all that it needs is to improve its work culture,� said Pegu.

Pegu further said that assessment of damage and loss in the current flood was not yet completed as many areas were still under water.

It needs to be mentioned here that a Central assessment team will arrive in Assam tomorrow to take stock of the flood situation.

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