World bank preparatory team on flood and anti-erosion project held discussions with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi

GUWAHATI: A team of the World Bank ( WB) on a preparatory mission on flood and anti- erosion related projects in the State held discussions with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Saturday.

The WB team informed the Chief Minister that they have visited the flood prone areas of Morigaon and Palashbari to get a first hand account of the situation there. The team apprised the Chief Minister that their visit would be followed by other teams from the World Bank.

The teams would visit the flood affected areas of the State to make an in-depth study for project preparation on a long term basis to control flood and erosion in those areas. The World Bank team informed the Chief Minister that water resources management including watershed management, reclamation of land, desiltation, soil conservation, among others, would be intrinsic parts of the latest technology driven projects to tackle flood and erosion in the State. The team informed the Chief Minister that community participation to cope with floods and to sustain their livelihood post-flood would be indispensable part of the projects.

The WB team said that an expert team would study the impact of flooding in the plains of the State following the heavy rush of flood waters from the hills of neighbouring North Eastern States during monsoons. For that the expert team would visit some States adjoining Assam to closely study the situation there and to adopt suitable action plan accordingly.

The WB team informed the Chief Minister that they would raise the capacity building of the engineers of the State Water Resources Department through intensive training.