GUWAHATI, July 25 - Water Resources Minister Keshab Mahanta today told the Assembly that the State government is serious about tackling the ongoing flood situation across the State, adding that measures are being taken on a war-footing to deal with the worsening situation.
The minister also said that the State government urged the Centre to declare flood as a national problem in view of the large-scale devastation of the calamity.
Replying to a query by legislator Pabindra Kalita, who alleged that the flood-hit people are not getting enough attention of the authorities, Mahanta said that 81 relief camps have been opened so far for sheltering such people.
�We are constantly monitoring the situation and making the necessary interventions. The Chief Minister is also reviewing the situation and all the departments and agencies concerned, such as Water Resources, PHE, Agriculture, NDRF, MET have been asked to work in tandem,� he said.
Asserting that the State government is committed to getting more Central assistance for tackling floods and erosion, Mahanta said that it expected the Centre to treat flood and erosion as a �matter of priority�.
Accusing the State government of not doing enough to ease the floods, Congress legislator Ajanta Neog said the State is staring at a spectre of famine, as there is just about a month�s time to sow paddy seedlings, but the Agriculture Department seemed unconcerned.
