Guwahati: Prime Minster Narendra Modi on Tuesday stressed the need for permanent solution to the perennial problem of floods in Assam and announced a package of Rs 2,000 crore for relief and rehabilitation of the flood-affected people in north-eastern states.
Responding to the demand of declaring Assam flood as national problem, Modi told legislators in Guwahati, “The flood problem of Assam is always a national problem. The government and people of this country also appreciate it as national problem and they respond to it with equal concern”.
He also asked the legislators of the ruling alliance to ensure that government schemes percolate down to the grassroots. He also referred to GST in his speech to the legislators and suggested them to work to enrol even the smallest unit under GST, which will help them in long run.
The prime minister in his short speech also called upon legislators to work for nation building.
Meanwhile, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters that Modi has decided to constitute a high power group of technocrats and experts to study course of Brahmaputra and suggest long-term measures for its permanent solution. The group of technocrats will also study the problem of erosion and related problems and work out strategy for the permanent solution of it.
He said that prime minister has announced a corpus of Rs 100 crore for the purpose.
Informing that Assam may get a share of about Rs 1200 crore in Rs 2000 crore package announced for relief and rehabilitation measures in the north-eastern states.
Sarma said that Modi has also sanctioned an additional Rs 250 crore for immediate relief and rehabilitation of the flood victims in the state. It is significant that Centre has already released an amount of Rs 345 crore to the state government for relief and rehabilitation of flood victims.
Modi also reviewed the ongoing flood relief and rehabilitation measures of the state government.
The prime minister also reviewed the flood situation in Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram. The chief ministers of these states, except Mizoram, met Modi and submitted their charter of demands.
Modi left for New Delhi around 3 pm.
