ASSAM home to several rivers is a victim of erosion problem since time immemorial. Five decades have passed since independence but not much success has been achieved despite several schemes and programmes. Lives  and properties worth thousands of crore are destroyed every year due to floods. The recurring annual lossof crore of  rupees has forced the State to remain backward. The State has recently allotted Rs 106 crore under three Centrally-sponsored schemes for south Kamrup. These schemes will be executed at Simina (Rs 3.92 crore), Panikhaiti (Rs 4.7 crore) and Baniapara. Despite seeking Rs 272 crore from the Centre for implementation of 84 Central schemes to tackle the erosion problem in Assam in the last fiscal year, the Union Government has so far approved Rs. 91 crore (through Expenditure Finance Committee) and released Rs. 15 crore as additional Central assistance to the State. “The remaining Rs 166 crore is yet to be approved (or released) by the Centre,” said Paresh Chandra Kalita, Chief Engineer, WR Department, Assam. Besides, the State Revenue Department has given the go ahead to start anti-erosion works under Flood Damage Repair (FDR) scheme at Faturi (Rs 1.25 crore), Simina (Rs 1.30 crore) and Baniapara area in south Kamrup.

As the implementation of Centrally-sponsored schemes will be delayed, the short-tern FDR schemes have been sought to be executed at Simina and Baniapara. Commenting on the performance of Brahmaputra Board, the Chief Engineer said, the WR Department has recently given No Objection Certificate (NOC) to Brahmaputra Board to execute various projects including the Rs 3.52 crore Rangmari dyke scheme and protection of Majuli island scheme. Majuli is the largest riverine island in the world. The island is under ecological threat due to land erosion, and this crisis is effecting Majuli’s unique culture.

The drainage schemes at Cachar and Barpeta, two schemes at Holighuli and Dibrugarh have also been handed over to the Brahmaputra Board. Rs 2 crore-scheme has been approved to  launch anti-erosion works at Hatimura in Nagaon. Mr. Kalita said the proposal of a new Central Sector Scheme (CSS) of Rs 9 crore would be submitted to the Central Water Commission to launch permanent protection work at Hatimura in Nagaon.

“DONER has sanctioned a scheme of Rs 11.82 crore for construction of dyke from Dizmore to Sonarigaon in Dhemaji district. The work there has already started,” Mr. Kalita added.

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