GUWAHATI: Together with several other departments, including PWD, agriculture, the water resources department, and the state disaster reaction force (SDRF), the disaster management authority, has prepared to combat the destructive floods in every district that strikes the state every monsoon.
Every year, the deluge causes the deaths of people, animals, and property.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority's (ASDMA) state executive committee has, meantime, given its approval to the request to give Rs 11 lakh to the general administrative department for the refurbishment, repair, and expansion of the state emergency operation centre.
This would be a component of the Emergency Response Support System project's implementation.
“In order to discuss the necessary preparations for dealing with the floods during the monsoon, the districts have called meetings with the departments. The ASDMA hasn't yet scheduled a central meeting, though. The districts will meet with it soon to discuss the preparations," the official added.
Assam has seen almost 550 embankment breaches since 2011 as a result of the devastating floods that strike the state every year after the southwest monsoons, according to ASDMA data. In 2015, the state reported 283 flood-related embankment breaches. Since 2011, the state has seen the most breaches ever recorded.
Last year, there were 20 embankment breaches reported, compared to 5 in 2021, 24 in 2020, 38 in 2019, 25 in 2018, 26 in 2017, 26 in 2016, 31 in 2014, 17 in 2013, and 54 in 2011. The authorities had no information on embankment breaches during 2012 available.
The Assam government has recently announced that it would wage a vigorous campaign against encroachments at the natural water bodies to protect Guwahati from the onslaught of artificial floods, which are currently being carried out by the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) at Silsako Beel, a protected wetland in the city.
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