PM to focus on long-term plan to tackle perennial flood problem in Assam

Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be arriving in Guwahati on Tuesday and discuss the mechanism for the permanent solution of the perennial flood problem in Assam.

Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that focus of the Prime Minister’s visit would be on working out strategy for long-term measures to mitigate the flood problem of the state.

Pointing out that extensive relief has been given to the flood-hit people of the state, Sarma said, “We have surplus fund to provide relief and rehabilitate the flood victims so it is not at all a issue for the state. The Centre has released sufficient fund to the state to handle the relief and rehabilitation of the flood victims.”

Prime Minister who is schedule to address the legislature party meeting of ruling alliance will be meeting senior bureaucrats of the state to work out a long-term plan to reduce the devastation of the floods, which is affecting the economy of the state adversely.

Prime Minister is also scheduled to discuss all the aspects related to the floods with Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and his council of ministers in a separate meeting on Tuesday at Administrative Staff College, sources in the state government said.

As the water-level has come down and most of those affected in floods have started returning back to their homes, Prime Minister has decide not go for aerial survey of the flood hit areas, sources said.

During his daylong stay in Guwahati, Prime Minister will also meet the chief ministers of Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, the states ravaged in flood 2017.