Guwahati, May 31: Assam water resources minister Pijush Hazarika on Friday assured that all embankments, which have been breached in the three Barak Valley districts amidst the current wave of floods, would be repaired within 15 days.
Speaking to mediapersons after making an assessment of the flood situation in several affected areas of Cachar district, the minister informed that till date, about seven embankments have been breached in Barak Valley.
“All the breached points in the affected embankments will be repaired within the next 15 days using geo mega tube technology to mitigate flood issues during the upcoming monsoon season. We will take appropriate measures after a proper analysis of why the flooding in Cachar, where two embankments have been breached, has been more severe compared to Karimganj and Hailakandi,” the minister informed.
Earlier, the minister visited the flood-hit Shibbari area of Silchar and assessed the situation. “The water resources department and the PWD are working in tandem to mitigate the problem,” he said.
Hazarika also visited Angarjur in Udharbond and assured early construction of a 300-metre dam there. Thereafter, he visited the Karatigram area in Cachar and took stock of the current situation which had taken a serious turn with the increase in the water level of the Madhura river.
In addition, he assured that the repair of the sluice gate would be done soon.
The minister directed the department’s officials to undertake repair measures immediately and asked the district administration to lend every possible help to the affected people.
The minister informed that relief camps have been set up in all the three districts to provide aid to the flood victims, and more camps would be established as and when needed.
On Thursday, Hazarika visited flood-hit areas in Karimganj district where close to 37,000 people across five revenue circles have been affected, embankments breached and several villages inundated.
Incessant rain over the past few days has triggered severe flooding in the three main rivers of Karimganj district.
Sources said that the embankment of the Longai river has been breached at Chengjuripar, damaging property at the nearby villages under Nilambazar revenue circle.
Additionally, breaches in the Longai river embankments at South Bilbari, two locations in Kochubari, and Muradpur under Patharkandi revenue circle have caused widespread flooding.
Karimganj district commissioner Mridul Yadav, who had accompanied the minister during the visit, informed that the administration was actively engaged in rescue operations, operating relief camps, distributing relief materials, providing medical aid and ensuring potable water supply to the affected people.
The DC informed that there was an adequate stock of essential items, including cooking gas and fuel, in the district.
Meanwhile, rescue operations involving the SDRF, local communities, revenue circle offices, and fire and emergency services have been initiated to assist the affected populace.
Adequate medical teams have also been deployed while relief camps have been established in various parts of the district with sufficient stock of relief materials and medicine.