Joint expert committee on floods yet to submit report

Guwahati, Jul 11 (UNI) Asom Water Resource Minister Bharat Narah today informed the Assembly that the joint expert committee comprising officials from Centre, state and neighbouring Bhutan were yet to submit any report on the flood situation arising out of alleged excessive release of water by Bhutan in the districts of Lower Asom.

In reply to different questions raised by AGP members, he said the committee has inspected the sources of the rivers and surveyed them but the whole matter was still in the preliminary stage even after two to three meetings of the committee.

He said the state government has been taking steps to prevent floods and erosion within its capacity while talks with Bhutan government on the matter continued.

On the Pagladia multi-purpose project, he said the project continued to hang with villagers from nearby villages refusing to surrender their land for construction of the project.

He said the state government has asked the Brahmaputra Board to submit its plans for rehabilitation and compensation to be paid to the villagers.

He said the Board has to obtain a no objection certificate from the state government for implementing the project.

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