World Bank to draft five year plan to tackle Assam flood and erosion
Guwahati, Feb 12 (IBNS): To tackle the devastating flood and erosion problem in Assam, the World Bank would draft a five year plan for a holistic approach including measures for constructive use of the excess water generated by the river during monsoon.
A nine member World Bank delegation led by its Country Head Junaid Kamal Ahmed informed this to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal during a discussion which took place at the Chief Minister’s Conference Room at Janata Bhawan in Guwahati on Monday.
Taking part in the discussion, Assam CM Sonowal appraised the delegation about the significant role Brahmaputra played during pre-independence period in the growth of trade & commerce in the region.
“Navigation through Brahmaputra with Chittagong port of Bangladesh moulded the economy of the state before India’s independence.. However, due to abrupt closure of trade through Chittagong port after independence severely impacted the economy of the state,” Sonowal said.
The Assam CM further said that flood & erosion caused by river Brahmaputra has become a major challenge for the state.
Proper management of the excess water of the river during monsoon and channelizing the same for state’s growth is the call of the hour, Sonowal stated with a call to the World Bank delegation to extend support and share its expertise with the Assam government for minimizing the havoc wrought by the river.
The World Bank Country Head during the discussion assured the Assam CM that World Bank would employ best technologies to address this alarming issue of the state and also extend full cooperation to the government in its endeavours.
Junaid Kamal Ahmed informed that World Bank would consider replicating the technology of the Netherland based firm which it utilized to control the Huang-He river of China in case of taming the Brahmaputra as well.
The World Bank Country Head also informed that it would draft a five year plan based on latest technologies for a holistic approach to tackle the problem and include initiatives for constructive use of the excess water generated by the river during monsoon apart from mitigating flood & erosion.
Junaid Ahmed also informed that World Bank would also actively consider in improving navigation facility through river Brahmaputra.
Chief Minister’s Media Adviser Hrishikesh Goswami, Legal Adviser Santanu Bharali, Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia, Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary Sanjay Lohia and a host of other state government officials were also present in the discussion.
(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
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