GUWAHATI, April 24 ? The flood-prone State is staring at a catastrophy in the event of even a medium magnitude flood this season as about 72 numbers of critical flood and anti-erosion schemes under the Central sector funding are yet to be completed due to non-release of fund for the last two consecutive years, of 2000-2001 and 2001-2002. Sources in the Flood Control Department informed that during the Ninth Plan period the State received Rs 18 crore in 1997-98 under Central sector schemes. However, out of the amount only Rs 10 crore was received actually as Rs 8 crore was deducted at source as interest. In 1998-99 State received Rs 18 crore and in 1999-2000 it received Rs 15 crore. But in the subsequent years of 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 the State did not receive any money under Central sector schemes.
In view of the gravity of the situation, the all-party delegation of Assam Assembly which is leaving for New Delhi on April 26, will highlight the seriousness of the flood and erosion problem in the State before the Central Government representatives, according to a highly-placed source. Sources informed that the all-party team of Assam Assembly would demand recognition to the flood problem as ?national problem? having national and international ramification and request the Centre to provide substantial financial assistance to tackle the menace of flood effectively. In the light of recommendation made by the 15th meeting of the Committee of Ministers for Economic Development of North Eastern region held at Shillong in January 1994, the all-party team is likely to request the Centre to consider flood control sector as infrastructure development on ?top-most priority.? It may be mentioned that the 15th meeting of the Committee of Ministers for Economic Development of North Eastern region had resolved that flood control measures in Assam must be recognised as infrastructure development. The meeting was of the view that flood control measures were such important component of infrastructure which protects other infrastructures like roads and railways network, power and agriculture. So this core sector of development, according to the committee of Ministers, requires requisite financial support from the Government of India.
The Central Government would be urged to waive the outstanding burden of Rs 378.81 crore on account of Central Loan Assistance (CLA) for flood control schemes in the State as a special case in view of the severe financial crisis faced by the State as well as in recognition to national commitment for mitigating the flood problem of the State. It would be pertinent to mention that due to non-conversion of the system of funding to flood management schemes under Central sector from CLA to grant-in-aid during the Ninth Five Year Plan, the entire programme for implementation of flood management measures came to a grinding halt. The Central Government would be requested to include more flood control schemes under the non-lapsable central pool of resources to cover critical and important schemes and arrange for release of Rs 50 crore per year for smooth completion of the schemes before on sat of monsoon in the state. At present, total 25 flood control schemes costing Rs 67.73 crore are being funded in the State under Non-lapsable Central Pool of resources and out of the amount Rs 40 crore was released till March this year.