Sushanta Talukdar Guwahati: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Sunday announced Rs. 500 crore Central assistance for relief and rehabilitation of the flood-affected people of Assam. He also promised more assistance, if the State government required, for dealing with the immediate problem of food, shelter and medicines. Mr. Patil also promised that there would not be any problem in arranging Rs. 83,000 crore required over a period of 10 to 15 years for taming the Brahmaputra and other Himalayan rivers and deal with the floods caused by these rivers. Referring to the North East Water Resource Authority proposed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for flood management, Mr. Patil said Dr. Singh had been paying special attention on the matter. Earlier, Mr. Patil conducted an aerial inspection of the flood-hit areas. He also reviewed the flood situation with Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Revenue Minister Bhumidhar Barman.