"Uttarakhand stands ready to extend every possible assistance": CM Dhami to Assam CM Sarma over flood situation
Dehradun, August 3
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday spoke over the phone with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to enquire about the situation arising from the devastating floods in the state.
Expressing his deep sympathies on behalf of the people of Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Dhami conveyed solidarity with the people of Assam and said, "The Uttarakhand government stands ready to extend every possible support and assistance during this difficult time."
He also prayed for the early restoration of normalcy in the flood-affected areas and for the safety and well-being of all citizens.
Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday announced that the State Government will formulate a comprehensive, science-based, long-term strategy to address the persistent problem of riverbank erosion in the state with the active involvement of experts from IIT Guwahati.
Chief Minister Sarma made this announcement while visiting erosion-affected areas of Dibrugarh district on the first day of his four-day tour of Upper Assam.
During the visit, he inspected the erosion-hit areas of Pukhurijan to assess the ground situation and interact with affected residents.
Sarma acknowledged that while the Water Resources Department has been implementing short-term erosion control measures, the scale and recurring nature of erosion caused by the Brahmaputra demands a scientific and sustainable solution.
Interacting with the local residents, the Chief Minister informed them that the department has already proposed an erosion mitigation project worth Rs 90 crore for the affected areas.
He said the project would be further strengthened with technical expertise and scientific inputs from IIT Guwahati to ensure durable and effective protection of vulnerable riverbank areas.
Reiterating the Government's commitment to safeguarding lives and livelihoods, Sarma assured the residents that all efforts would be made to implement long-term measures capable of addressing the challenge of river erosion in a holistic manner.
Meanwhile, floods continue to impact several parts of Assam, with five districts currently affected by the deluge, according to the latest official figures.
The flood-affected districts are Golaghat, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Charaideo, and Dhemaji. A total of 21 revenue circles and 335 villages have been affected by the floods.
The floods have impacted 1,36,203 people, while 15,422 hectares of crop area have been affected, causing significant damage to agricultural land.
The human toll has also risen, with three deaths reported from Sivasagar district. In addition, two persons remain missing, both from Sivasagar.
Officials said no urban flood districts have been reported in the current flood situation.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation as relief and response measures remain underway in the affected areas.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The Brahmaputra erosion problem is decades old. I'm glad CM Sarma is finally bringing IIT Guwahati into the picture. Short-term band-aids won't work - we need scientific solutions. Rs 90 crore project sounds promising, but let's see the execution.
Every year same story - floods in Assam, people suffer, politicians make promises. I appreciate the help from Uttarakhand, but we need a permanent solution. The Brahmaputra is a monster river, and treating erosion with small projects won't cut it. This needs national-level attention and funding.
Very heartening to see CM Dhami personally calling Assam CM to offer help. This is the spirit of cooperative federalism. Meanwhile, 1.36 lakh people affected and 15,000+ hectares of crops destroyed - our farmers in Assam really need all the support they can get. 🌾
I have family in Jorhat and they're facing tough times. The river erosion has destroyed so many homes over the years. Good to see IIT experts being involved - that's the kind of serious thinking we need for long-term solutions. My best wishes to all affected.
While I appreciate the sentiments, I hope this doesn't become just another photo-op. The people of Assam need concrete action, not just phone calls and announcements. The Rs 90 crore project - let's track its timeline and completion. Words are cheap; infrastructure and protection are costly but necessary.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.