ASSAM: 72 HOURS PRE-WARNING OF FLOOD NOW POSSIBLE: SANJAY KUNDU

The 60th Standing Committee meeting of the Brahmaputra Board was held in Guwahati today. The meeting was presided by the Chairman of the Board, Shri Sanjay Kundu. P. M Scott, the Vice Chairman and other officials of the Board were also present in the meeting. The various activities of the Board like survey and investigation of Multipurpose Project and Mini-Micro Projects, execution of Anti-erosion and Flood Management Scheme etc among others were discussed in the meeting.

Shri Kundu said, “This meeting is basically where the standing committee reviews the works undertaken by the Board in the previous year, and also the budgets and how we have spent it. We also draw our work plan for the next financial year. So, it is a review and action plan meeting. I am pleased to say that the projects that we have undertaken last year are near completion and the quality that we have ensured is very high. We also have a very strong plan prepared for the next year.”

Talking about the future work plans of the Board, Shri Kundu further said, “There are drainage development schemes which are near completion; four of them are lined up. Then, there is a plan of raised platforms as the North East is flood-prone so it will be very effective. We are also taking up major projects up in Majuli where we are taking huge flood protection and erosion protection work.”

Replying to the question of flood prevention in the State in the coming days, Shri Kundu added, “Major initiatives are being taken up by the Ministry of the Water Resources and Central Water Commission in the form of flood forecasting. The flood forecasting mechanisms are very robust. Now, they are able to give 72 hours pre-warning and there is a huge network of flood forecasting sites in the North East. The National Disaster Management Authority is also able to pre-position NDRF battalions and the State is also able to pre-position their assets for flood prevention.”