GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that State government has reached substantial distance towards the target of making Majuli as one of the most important confluences of people belonging to all caste, community, creed and ethnicity.
Laying the foundation of a multi-purpose flood shelter home to be built with the financial outlay of Rs. 2.51 crore by Assam State Disaster Management Authority and Lok Nirman (B) Bibhag, Chief Minister Sonowal said that Majuli a seat of Vaishnavite culture has got the distinction of being the land of humanity where people belonging to different caste, community and ethnicity are living in perfect harmony. He also said that State government has fixed the target of making Majuli as the world famouscentres where people of different faiths live in perfect harmony in perfect unison of the nature and culture. Sonowal on the occasion also inaugurated the flood protection work of Loba-Garmurinvolving a financial outlay of Rs. 3.60 crore, flood protection work of Karatipar area of Rs. 2 crore and again a flood protection work of Loba-Ahotguri of Rs. 3.32 crore.
Chief Minister Sonowal also said that the flood and erosion since 1951 have caused several changes in the state. Moreover, the people of the state have been trying to project flood and erosion at the national level. The previous Congress government did not pay any heed to solve these problems.
However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi after attending a meeting at Guwahati in 2017, in a bid to find out a lasting solution to flood and erosion constituted a Committee with the Deputy Chairperson of NITI Aayog as its chairman. The committee for the solution of the problem constituted North East Water Management Authority. Sonowal expressed hope that the Jal Shakti Bibhag will introduce a bill in the Parliament for lasting solution to flood and erosion in the Northeast. He also said that the 15th Finance Commission also recommended to include river erosion in the list of natural calamities. He also said that as a result of coordinated efforts between Central and State government it has been made possible to find tangible solution to several problems in the state.
Stating that he can very well empathise with the sufferings that people of the flood affected areas go through as he himself belongs to flood prone area, Sonowal said that State government has decided to construct multi-purpose flood shelter homes in six places of the state. He also said that State government for giving relief to the people of Majuli from flood, has decided to set up 22 flood relief centres using Rs. 2.73 crore at greater Ahotguri areas.
Speaking on the occasion Minister of State for Revenue and Disaster Management Jogen Mohan said that under the present government development of Majuli has received a great fillip. He also said that the construction of the Multi-purpose flood relief homes would be completed every soon. He also said that the present BJP led State government besides taking steps for safeguarding rights of the indigenous people of the state, has taken schemes like Arunodoi, Arundhutiand several others for the benefits of all sections of the people of the state.
While speaking on the occasion, MP Lok Sabha Pradan Baruah said that the flood protection measure taken by the State government would give respite to the people of Kartipar area. He also said that responding to Chief Minister Sonowal's intense desire and sincerity, the BJP led government even took the step for linking Majuli with National Highway.
In the programme where Deputy Commissioner Majuli Bikram Kairi gave the welcome address, Chief Executive Member Deuri Autonomous Council Madhab Deuri, Vice Chairman ARTFED Rupa Kaman, President Assam Cricket Association Ramen Dutta and a host of the other dignitaries were present.