Rs 55 cr scheme to combat State floods

GUWAHATI, January 29: Centre has prepared a scheme of Rs 55 crore to control flood havoc in the Brahmaputra and Barak Valleys. Disclosing this at a Flood Control Ministers meet of the Northeast, organised by the State Flood Control Department here today, the Union Minister for Water Resources, Arjun Charan Sethi informed that the funds will be provided as 90 per cent Central grant and 10 per cent State share. Sethi further said that Centre has released so far Rs 390.90 crore loan to the State to combat the flood problem. "Keeping in view the intensity of flood, the Brahmaputra Board has drawn up several schemes. The execution of the Harrang drainage scheme in the Barak Valley commenced in 1998, is scheduled to be completed by 2002," the Union Minister said. Commenting on the Pagladia project, he revealed that all affected families due to erection of an earthen dam would be properly rehabilitated by providing self-employment schemes. In this context the Union Minister urged the Northeastern States to initiate concerted efforts to manage floods in this vast area. "We have given priority to control the floods in the entire region considering the gravity of the situation," Sethi said. Participating in the meeting, the Union Minister of State for Water Resources, Bijoya Chakraborty urged the Centre to take prompt action in implementing the projects. Chakraborty further said that Rs 10 crore has been sanctioned for the rain water harvesting project in the Northeast. "The Brahmaputra Board has been activated to chalk out long term and short term measures for flood management," Chakraborty added. Earlier delivering the welcome address the State Foood Control Minister, Promode Gogoi laid emphasis on setting up of modern information centre to provide flood forecasting data in order to reduce damage. Gogoi also appealed to the Centre for releasing adequate fund to combat the problem. The Ministers of the Northeast also suggested setting up of a high power coordination committee, with the representatives of Centre to evolve strategies in containing the flood in the region. They also urged upon the Centre to release fund timely so that adequate steps can be initiated during flood. The meeting was also attended by several senior officials of Centre and State Government.