BJP defends Assam Government on flood-control Measures in the State

GUWAHATI: Reacting to Opposition's charge that the flood situation in the State would have not have been so devastating had the State government repaired the breached and aging embankments on time, the State BJP said on Thursday said that the government has been religiously doing flood-control works since 2016.

Addressing the media here on Thursday, State BJP's chief spokesperson Rupam Goswami said, "Many of the breached embankments in the State could be renovated due to the Sarbananda Sonowal government's dedication to the job. After the BJP and its allies coming to power in the State in 2016, as many as 731 flood-control schemes costing Rs 1560.96 crore from fiscal 2016-17 to 2018-19 have been implemented in the State. These include 91 embankments with a length of 17.75 km breached during the Congress regime. Apart from strengthening 270.12-km embankments, three sluice gates have also been built during the period. Anti-erosion works of 140.02 km by using geo-bags and porcupines have also been done.

"In fiscal 2019-20, 268.50 km embankment strengthening and 145 anti-erosion works have been started. Thirty-six of the 38 embankments breached by previous floods have also been strengthened. However, during the current fiscal there have been hiccups in going ahead with the works approved this year. The 40th meeting of the Water Resources Department gave budgetary approval to 101 schemes with an estimated cost of Rs 153.74 crore. The administrative approval to these schemes was given on February 26, 2020. On November 16, 2019, the department got the administrative approval of state funds. However, there were curfews and internet bandhs and then the anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) agitation in December and January led to a grinding halt to the implementation of the approved schemes. Even after all such hurdles works of some of the embankments were done. Then came Janata Curfew and the lockdown, leading to a grinding halt to the flood-control schemes. The department has started the works of 341 schemes, including 60 schemes with an estimated cost of Rs 89.63 crore that received approval at the 41st meeting of the department, 62 schemes of state's own resources with an estimated cost of Rs 131.41 crore, two DoNER schemes costing Rs 38.75 crore, 53 NABARD-approved schemes with a cost of Rs 900 crore, 15 schemes with a cost of Rs 36.49 crore approved by the Chief Minister's package and 41 schemes with an estimated cost of Rs 607.98 crore approved by the State Disaster Management Authority."

Now the Chief Minister himself is taking stock of the flood situation, and he has asked all ministers to stand beside flood-affected people of the State, Goswami said.

Also Watch: Bail for Akhil Gogoi in 3 Cases, 2 More Cases to Go