Modi announces Rs 2,000 crore to combat NE floods

Our Bureau

IMPHAL | Aug 1

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the flood situation in Northeastern states at a series of high-level meetings held at Guwahati today. He held detailed review meetings on the situation in the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland.

He announced Rs 2,000 crore for Northeastern states to deal with the damage caused by recent floods that killed 76 persons in Assam and affected millions.

Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the PM also announced an additional Rs 100 crore to institute a high-powered group, including scientists, technocrats and bureaucrats from central and state governments, to study the course of the Brahmaputra river for a permanent solution to the floods in the region.

Chief ministers of the respective states, and senior officials were present at the meetings.

During the meeting, state chief minister, N. Biren Singh urged the PM to figure out a permanent solution to the frequent floods in the state. Mentioning that Ithai barrage has become the main cause of frequent flood in the State, N. Biren Singh drew the attention of the PM to review the Loktak project and Ithai barrage.

He highlighted that the Loktak project was taken up so that the State could get some power supply out of it. He mentioned that at present, the State is having sufficient power resources from other sources.

Stating that Manipur is facing one of the worst man made ecological disasters and the floods have severely affected the socio-economic life of the people, chief minister maintained that the Ithai barrage should be removed so that natural course of water could be maintained.

During the meet, chief minister expressed his desire for dredging the river beds of all the rivers in the State and to conduct eviction drives against the encroachment on the banks of the rivers.

Chief secretary R. R. Rashmi, secretary to CM, M. Ashokkumar, principal secretary, M.H. Khan attended the meeting.