Assam: Union Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs Ashok Singhal visits Dhemaji district

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: Ashok Singhal, Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs and Irrigation, visited Dhemaji district on Wednesday with a day-long programme. During the visit to the district, Singhal conducted field visit to the irrigation schemes being implemented in Dhemaji and Jonai sub divisions and took stock of their progress and present status.

Singhal at first arrived in Jonai and went to Owen Ghat to study the potential of the irrigation projects at River Sile flowing across the Assam-Arunachal border area. Then he inspected the Menjak drain and Simen River and observed the prospect of irrigation projects there. He also visited the farm owned by Chitta Payeng, a progressive farmers under Demou village, and inspected the cultivation of sugarcane, done with the benefits of the irrigation system set up under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana.

Then the Minister arrived in Dhemaji and held review meeting on irrigation schemes in the conference hall of the Dhemaji Deputy Commissioner’s office. The meeting was attended by Lakhimpur MP Pradan Baruah, Jonai MLA Bhuban Pegu, Irrigation Department Secretary Pavitra Ram Khaond along with high-level officers of the department, Deputy Commissioner Ankur Bhorali and Irrigation Department officers and engineers under Dhemaji district. They also accompanied the Minister during the conduct of the field visit to the irrigation schemes.

While interacting with the media persons, Ashok Singhal said, “Effort on the part of the Government of Assam has been underway continuously in order to provide benefits of irrigation system to the farmers of the State. The irrigation Department has continued endeavours to implement new irrigation projects with adequate facilities to enhance the agriculture sector of the State. At present district irrigation project plan has been chalked out in view of preparing master plan for the upcoming 25 years.”

During the visit to Jonai, Singhal inaugurated the Kulajan Model Anganwadi Centre, constructed by Women and Children Development Department with the investment of a fund of Rs. 25,000. He also laid the foundation stone for the construction of Kanduli Mathura-Kulajan connecting road under Mukhya Mantri Pakee Path Nirman Achoni with a fund amounting to Rs. 117.27 lakh, 2022-23 financial year and Kapahtoli Deury Gaon-Sripani Kundimama Mandir connecting road with the investment of a fund amounting to Rs. 66.89 lakh.

Ashok Singhal also visited the Office of the Silapathar Municipal Board and took stock of the activities of the civic body concerned. He also held review meeting with the chairpersons, ward commissioners, officers and officials of the Dhemaji and Silapathar Municipal Boards. He instructed the officers and civic body representatives to build adequate systems for waste management, tax collection and resolution to other issues of the civic body areas.