Flood situation in Assam remains grim
-
28/07/2008
-
Assam Tribune (Guwahati)
Though there was a slight fall in the level of water in major rivers, the overall flood situation in the State remained grim today also with the Brahmaputra flowing above the danger level at three places. The mighty river is flowing above the warning level at three other places and most of its tributaries also are flowing above the warning level at various sites. However, the flood scenario in the river island Majuli was reported this afternoon to be stable.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister today made an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas of Dhakuwakhana sub-division of Lakhimpur and Majuli sub-division of Jorhat, said official sources here.
The Chief Minister announced at Dhakuwakhana that the Water Commission, which the State Government had proposed to set up with Dr Nirmal Kumar Choudhury as the head, would involve the scientists from Guwahati IIT, Gauhati University, Dibrugarh University, the country's disaster management institutes and other universities. The government will draw a comprehensive plan as per the suggestion of the commission to control flood and erosion and funds from the Central and the State governments would be made available to execute the plan. Besides, an amount of over Rs 1,000 crore will also be available from the Asian Development Bank for the purpose, the Chief Minister said.
In the Dhakuwakhana Circuit House meeting, the Chief Minister instructed the officers to take rescue and relief measures adequately. He also laid stress on making available safe drinking water and medicine available to the flood-hit people adequately.
The district authorities of Lakhimpur will be provided with speedboats in adequate number, he said and instructed the authorities concerned to take up restoration of the breached dykes and roads, etc., by October next. For the purpose, he directed the district authorities of Lakhimpur to submit the plans speedily.
On the Ranganadi Hydroelectric Project of the NEEPCO and North East Water Resources Authority, he said that he had already talked to the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh. He asked the Lakhimpur Deputy Commissioner to be in touch with the Deputy Commissioners of Ziro and Papumpare districts of Arunachal on matters of flood warning, etc., said the sources.
During the tour to Dhakuwakhana sub-division areas, he was accompanied by Water Resources Minister Bharat Chandra Narah, North Assam Commissioner John Ingti Kathar, DC Lakhimpur J Narlikar and SDO(Civil) of Dhakuwakhana.
Prior to the visit to the Dhakuwakhana flood-hit areas, the Chief Minister held a meeting with the senior officials of the administration and departments concerned. MLA Lakhimpur Ghana Burhagohian was also present in the meeting.
Water level: The Brahmaputra is flowing at 1.13 metre above the danger level at Dibrugarh. It is also flowing above the danger level at Neamatighat (40 cm above) and Dhubri (47 cm above). The mighty river is flowing above the warning level at Tezpur, Guwahati and Goalpara.
Its tributaries Burhidihing, Subansiri, Dhansiri (South), Jia-Bharali, Puthimari, Pagladiya, Beki and Sonkosh are also flowing above the warning level at places.
However, Water Resources Department (WRD) sources here said this evening that the water levels of the Brahmaputra and its major tributaries, except the Dhansiri (South), are receding. The Dhansiri is maintaining a rising trend. The Brahmaputra water level at Dibrugarh was found to have been about 9 cm below in the evening than what it was at 6 am today, said the WRD sources.
SDO (Civil) of Majuli, Promod Chandra Deka, told this newspaper this afternoon that the overall flood situation in the river island was stable. If heavy rain does not occur in the upper catchments of the rivers, the situation on the island is expected to improve, he said,
The Brahmaputra water level is receding and it was found to be flowing below the danger mark at Kamalabari. Floodwaters are entering the island slowly and the fury of the flood that was witnessed on July 25 has reduced now.
However, some factors are still worrying the people of the island. The Subansiri is maintaining a rising trend and today it was found to be flowing about one metre above the danger level at Jengraimukh. Floodwater of the Brahmaputra engulfed 22 more villages today. Till yesterday, 70 villages of the island were under floodwater.
The erosion by the Brahmaputra at Besamara has become severe, while the erosion at Kumargaon has stabilised now. Both the places are located near the historic Dakhinpat Sattra.
Affected people are staying in temporary shelters erected on the highlands and the civil administration has supplied them with tarpaulin, hand pumps, water purifiers, rice and dal, etc.
So far, 957.49 quintals of rice and 95.41 quintals of dal and 550 packets of water purifier have been distributed among these people and medical camps have also been held at eight locations. No report of outbreak of any contagious disease from the flood-hit areas have been received so far and the civil administration is keeping strict vigil on the situation, said Deka.
Our Kamalabari Correspondent adds: Though the water levels of the Brahmaputra, Kherkatia and Luit Suti are showing signs of recession, the overall flood situation in the Upper, East and Central Majuli remained grim even today.
It is feared that more villages would be inundated by the floodwaters within the next two days.