GUWAHATI, Nov 7 - The restoration and breach closing work of the Water Resource Department (WRD) to make the embankments along the State�s rivers could not be started so far even though an impression was given by the State Government this year that such works would be started since October.
Information available with this newspaper suggests that there is a likelihood of taking up execution of such works this year latest by about one and half a month hence. According to information, since the harvest of the paddy crops cannot be completed in the State till December, earthwork is not possible till end December as the required earth is collected from these fields on most occasions.
Moreover, till December, loaded trucks cannot ply on the paddy fields either due to ponding of water or high groundwater table. After the restoration and breach closing proposals are sanctioned by the authorities concerned, it is mandatory that the WRD should go for e-tendering to execute the works. This takes another month.
Only after completing these formalities, execution of these works will start. Thus, the entire process is expected to take at least one and half a month�s time.
When contacted, sources in the WRD told this correspondent that altogether 36 breaches occurred in the embankments of the rivers of the State during the flood season this year. Of these, 17 breaches were recorded on the embankments of the rivers in the Barak Valley.
Altogether, 29 proposals to plug these breaches have been prepared and 15 of these proposals have already been recommended by the State Executive Committee (SEC) for implementation under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). The SEC is likely to clear the other estimates shortly. The 16 estimates recommended by the SEC are worth Rs 32.88 crore and these are meant for breach closing, while 13 other yet-to-be-cleared proposals are estimated to be worth Rs 53.43 crore. These proposals are also meant for breach closing.
Meanwhile, for restoration works, 48 schemes are expected to be recommended by the SEC shortly. These schemes are worth around Rs 86.95 crore. It needs mention here that the WRD has this year submitted around 400 proposals for restoration under the SDRF. Administrative approval to these proposals is still awaited, sources said.
GUWAHATI, Nov 7 - The restoration and breach closing work of the Water Resource Department (WRD) to make the embankments along the State�s rivers could not be started so far even though an impression was given by the State Government this year that such works would be started since October.
Information available with this newspaper suggests that there is a likelihood of taking up execution of such works this year latest by about one and half a month hence. According to information, since the harvest of the paddy crops cannot be completed in the State till December, earthwork is not possible till end December as the required earth is collected from these fields on most occasions.
Moreover, till December, loaded trucks cannot ply on the paddy fields either due to ponding of water or high groundwater table. After the restoration and breach closing proposals are sanctioned by the authorities concerned, it is mandatory that the WRD should go for e-tendering to execute the works. This takes another month.
Only after completing these formalities, execution of these works will start. Thus, the entire process is expected to take at least one and half a month�s time.
When contacted, sources in the WRD told this correspondent that altogether 36 breaches occurred in the embankments of the rivers of the State during the flood season this year. Of these, 17 breaches were recorded on the embankments of the rivers in the Barak Valley.
Altogether, 29 proposals to plug these breaches have been prepared and 15 of these proposals have already been recommended by the State Executive Committee (SEC) for implementation under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). The SEC is likely to clear the other estimates shortly. The 16 estimates recommended by the SEC are worth Rs 32.88 crore and these are meant for breach closing, while 13 other yet-to-be-cleared proposals are estimated to be worth Rs 53.43 crore. These proposals are also meant for breach closing.
Meanwhile, for restoration works, 48 schemes are expected to be recommended by the SEC shortly. These schemes are worth around Rs 86.95 crore. It needs mention here that the WRD has this year submitted around 400 proposals for restoration under the SDRF. Administrative approval to these proposals is still awaited, sources said.
