![Assam floods: Toll climbs to 34](/files/floods_assm_g_0.jpg)
Assam floods: Toll climbs to 34
Guwahati: Flood situation in Assam continued to remain grim on Monday with three more persons losing their lives, taking the death toll to 34 in the current deluge in which over 11 lakh people have been
Guwahati: Flood situation in Assam continued to remain grim on Monday with three more persons losing their lives, taking the death toll to 34 in the current deluge in which over 11 lakh people have been
Following reports on polio detection cases in Morigaon district, the Barpeta District Health Society has geared up immunisation activities to make the district polio-free.
Built on the logic of "development', big dams have wreaked havoc on indigenous communities in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh with regular flooding. By pursuing predatory development the central and state governments are equally culpable of visiting disaster on the region.
BARPETA
Over 90 per cent of the Rs 8.21 crore project to close the Beki embankment breach at Narayanguri is complete by now, while the rate of erosion is reduced considerably at Bahari in Barpeta district. Highly-placed sources in the State Water Resources Department (WRD) told this newspaper that by June 15 the rest of the work was expected to be complete. Meanwhile, a sanction of Rs 5 crore has been granted for opening the silted up mouth of the Manas at Mathanguri. The BTAD is to execute the work by excavating the mouth of the Manas, sources said.
Kapla beel at Sarukshetri mouza in Barpeta district is the largest beel in Asom. This wetland filled with natural, geographical and historical resources and encompassing a huge area has the potential to be developed as a tourist destination or spot. But unfortunately this opportunity is lost amid a saga of differences between the State Government and the Fishery Department. The apathy and indifference of the authorities have denied the Kalpa beel its place of pride on the tourist map.
Though successive Governments at the Centre and in the State have adopted several ambitious schemes like Sajaldhara to supply safe drinking water to people, due to the alleged indifference and lack of proper follow-up action of the Government, there has been no desired results. The Government observed 2003 as the year of safe drinking water. But it is a matter of great regret that even after five years, the objectives of the scheme have been relegated to the background as is evident from the dismal water supply schemes in several parts of Barpeta district.
Though successive governments at the Centre and the State have adopted several ambitious schemes to supply safe drinking water to the people like