Assam seeks Rs 12,000 crore for flood damages

GUWAHATI: Making strong case in front of visiting central team, Assam wants Rs 12,000 Crore for the damages it has suffered due to present wave of flood.

A seven member team from government of India has arrived on Tuesday. This year's flood which has affected 20 lakh people in 27 districts and killing 125 people is the biggest since 1988. Still some areas are submerged in the water.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Nabam Tuki has sought Centre's help. The government of India has announced an ad hoc package of Rs 500 Crore to deal with flood in Assam.

Assam's water resources minister Rajib Lochan Pegu said, "We have approached the Centre to fund strengthening flood-prevention embankments and dredging of river beds. The estimated cost of this project will be Rs 3460 Crore."

Assam has 4459 km long embankments and present wave of flood has breached 53 embankments. State government has identified 950 km long embankment as extremely vulnerable and 2390 km as vulnerable.