Plan panel holds up Assam flood projects

NEW DELHI, March 20: Planning Commission has put on brake sin flood control works in the Brahmaputra Valley by holding back sanction of schemes worth Rs 85.50 crore drawn up last year. The rionchalant attitude of the Planning Commission has spelt trouble for the Union Minister of State for Water Resources, Bijoya Chakravorty, as three ambitious projects sanctioned last year by the Ministry were shown the light leaving the State's lone minister in the NDA high and dry. The impasse forced the Parliamentary Standing Committee attached to the Water Resources Ministry to remark that it was constrained to note that the Planning Commission has not yet finally cleared the schemes. The Committee recommended that the Ministry should pursue vigorously with the Planning Commission for an early clearance of these important schemes, so that the schemes could be taken up urgently. The Committee further added that it desired that funds allocated for the Northeastern States should be fully utilised and the three new projects to be taken up are completed within the stipulated period. The three schemes involved included the much-delayed Pagladiya project, flood control steps in Brahmaputra valley and allocation for the Brahmaputra Board. In reply to the Parliamentary Standing Committee's recommendation, the Ministry has claimed that it was pursuing the matter with the Planning Commission and the Union Finance Minister for an early approval of the Centrally sponsored schemes of Rs 200 crore for flood control works in Brahmaputra and Barak Valleys. However, of the Rs 200 crore, Assam would have to contribute Rs 50 crore as State's share, which is a tall order considering the financial crisis the State is passing through. The Water Resources Minister, on the other hand, exceeding the allocation norm of 10 per cent for the Northeast, earmarked allocation worth about 19.33 per cent for implementation of various schemes. Out of the total allocation of Rs 475.42 crore, for the financial year 2000-2001, it has earmarked Rs 91.90 crore. And this exercise may also prove futile as States like Assam are not expected to contribute their part of the share. Meanwhile, the Ministry reported to the Parliamentary Standing Committee that they are in the process of collecting the information and necessary clearance sought by the Public Investment Board for the Rs 547.79 crore Pagladiya Dam Project. The project was cleared by PIB last year pending certain clarifications. The Ministry also claimed that it has prepared an action plan to strengthen the Barhmaputra Board and make its functioning more effective. It has also been proposed that the Board would take up the work of Pagladiya Project and the flood management and drainage development schemes.