STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The State government is shifting to the permanent concept of road-cum-embankment by replacing the ageing embankments that were built in the state between 1954 and 1974 as short-term measures after the devastating 1950 earthquake.
The state has embankments with a cumulative length of 4658.14 km now, and the lifespan of most of the embankments in the state has expired. The lifespan of an embankment is taken as 25 years in the state.
The State Government has entrusted its PWD (roads) with the responsibility of constructing the road-cum-embankments, which are technically more complicated than embankments. This is despite the fact that embankments belong to the Water Resources Department. Insofar as the construction of roads is concerned, PWD is better equipped than the Department of Water Resources.
The PWD (Roads) will execute it under the construction of roads-cum-embankments projects under Mukhyo Mantrir Mathauri Pakikaran Achani under RIDF-XXVIII of NABARD for the years 2022–23. Under this, PWD (Roads) has taken up projects worth Rs 318.29 crore (approximately) in 55 packages. The roads-cum-embankments will run along the Brahmaputra and various other rivers in the state, like Barak, Puthinari, Desang, Baroliya, Kollong, Demow, Subansiri, Buridehing, Nonoi, Beki, Gabharu, etc.
The legislative assembly constituencies (LAC) that will have roads-cum-embankments are Biswanath, Ratabari, Rangiya, Kamalpur, Dispur, Mahmora, Nalbari, Dharmapur, Jagiroad, Dergaon, Jorhat, Thowra, Dhakuakhana, Bihpuria, Udalguri, Margherita, Sadia, Naharkatia, Barchala, Lakhipur, Barhampur, Mangaldai, Sorbhog, Jania, Goalpara West, Katlicherra, Algapur, Borkhola, Abhayapuri North, Abhayapuri South, Sivasagar, Naoboicha, Goalpara East, Mankachar, Badarpur, Katigorah, Bokakhat, Gohpur, Dhekiajuli, Chhaygaon, Patharkandi, Golokganj, and Chenga.
This venture is to make the roads-cum-embankments more compact than embankments, thereby serving two purposes: controlling floodwaters and boosting communication. The project is in the tendering process now.
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