NEW DELHI, Dec 27—With the floods just a season away, the Centre has cleared several flood control and anti-crosion projects including a proposal to protect Dhubri and South Salamara areas. The projects sanctioned by the Planning Commission in the past few days are expected to be completed by March 2004. According to sources, the latest in a series of projects cleared by the commission included raising of Brahmaputra dyke from Biswanath to Panpur at an estimated cost of Rs 4.87 crore. Another project cleared the same day included anti-erosion measures on river Brahmaputra at Assam Bangiya Saraswata Math, Kokilamukh to be constructed at a cost of Rs 4.08 crore.
Two similar projects considered significant for protection of Dhubri, South Salmara and Tumni areas were accorded clearance by the Commission for investments in the State plan. The anti-erosion measure to protect South Salamara and Tumni areas, some of the worst erosion affected areas in the State, is estimated to cost Rs 3.74 crore. The scheme proposes for boulder revetment with apron in cage including palliative measures with bamboo porcupines and prostilation measures with bamboo cribs.
The project to save Dhubri town from erosion of river Brahmaputra at Bahadurtari and Newghat area is estimated to cost Rs 5.18 crore. The project to raise and strengthen Brahmaputra dyke from Biswanath to Panpur envisages to save 11,520 hectares of area from erosion. Another project cleared by the Planning Commission included a scheme to protect Kapurpura area including Bhuragaon town from erosion of Brahmaputra river at an estimated cost Rs 6.90 crore. A proposal on raising and strengthening to flood protection and drainage in Patherkhandi Phase-II has also been sanctioned. The project is estimated to cost Rs 4.95 crore.