GUWAHATI: Assam chief minister, Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday told the contractor firm engaged in construction of Majuli River Island Protection dyke to complete the work on the Rs 199 crore project before the onset of monsoon or face consequences.
Majuli, arguably the biggest inhabited river island on earth, suffers from flood havoc caused by mighty Brahmaputra River almost every year which results in heavy loss of property and damage to infrastructure like roads and bridges.
Miffed over slow pace of implementation of Majuli protection work, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday asked the implementing agency TK Engineering to complete the project on a war footing or face legal action.
Reviewing the progress of the implementation work of Majuli Protection dyke at the conference hall of DC Office Majuli, Sonowal made it clear that the Rs. 199 crore scheme for the protection of Majuli from the scourge of flood and erosion was taken up to save the seat of Vaishnavite culture and heritage from further depletion.
He also made it clear to Brahmaputra Board and the implementing agency TK Engineering to apply their expertise and resources for the protection of Majuli in a time bound manner. He at the same time warned that nobody will be allowed to play with the life and property of the people of Majuli and any if lapse is found then a legal action would be taken accordingly.
Sonowal also expressed his displeasure over the sluggish implementation of the 27 km-long erosion protection work and maintained that protection of river island is the primary responsibility of the government and any negligence on the part of any organization would result in legal action.
Sonowal also asked Chairman Brahmaputra Board Rajiv Yadav and the project in-charge of TK Engineering to work in unison and complete the work before the onset of Monsoon and allow the people of Majuli to have a sigh of relief from the seasonal flood and perennial erosion. He also warned that if the implementing agency coudn’t show desired result within the stipulated time frame that is May 2019, the government would be bound to take stern action.
He also asked project in-charge of TK Engineering to stay at Majuli and oversee the project implementation. Sonowal also maintained that the vulnerable points of Majuli should be protected with geo-bag and asked the Water Resources Department to resort to erecting porcupine and other flood mitigating measures to save the people of Majuli from the onslaught of flood. He also asked representatives from Brahmaputra Board, District Administration to carry out detailed assessment of the status of the project and submit a report to him.