NORTH LAKHIMPUR, July 29 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today visited the flood and erosion-hit areas of Lakhimpur and inspected various embankments in the district. The Chief Minister visited Hekerajan in Bogeenadi under Dhakuakhana subdivision in Lakhimpur. He inspected the site of the affected portion of Hekerajan eroded by Subansiri. Sonowal also visited the areas affected by erosion by Charikodiya river near Dhakuakhana College in Dhakuakhana. He was accompanied by Lakhimpur MP Pradan Baruah, State Water Resources minister Keshab Mahanta and local MLA and State Minister Naba Kumar Doley.
Earlier on Tuesday night, the Chief Minister visited the flood and erosion-hit areas of Na-Ali in North Lakhimur Revenue Circle. Sonowal inspected the erosion protection works carried out by State Water Resources department at Balighat near Na-Ali on the downstream of Subansiri.
The Chief Minister arrived in Dhalpur under Narayanpur Revenue Circle from Gohpur on Tuesday afternoon and went to erosion-hit Jamuguri area of the district. He visited the worst-affected No. 3 check bund off the Brahmaputra in Bonpuroi area of Jamuguri.
Speaking to mediapersons, Sonowal announced that riverbank erosion has been categorized as a natural calamity in the 15th Finance Commission and works would begin as soon as funds meant for it is received. �Erosion was not considered as a natural disaster till the 14th Finance Commission and now it has been categorized as so from 15th Finance Commission which will contribute in checking the problem,� said Sonowal. He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for creating North East Water Management Authority with Deputy Chairman of NITI Ayog as its president and members from all NE States to prepare a project report on flood and erosion problem of the region.
Later the Chief Minister arrived at North Lakhimpur and held discussions with officials of the district administration on the flood and erosion situation.
Ex-Chief Minister Prafulla Kr Mahanta also visited the flood and erosion-hit areas of Na-Ali in North Lakhimpur on Tuesday.
