Water release by hydel project cause floods in Asom

Guwahati, July 17 (UNI) Abnormal rise in water levels due to sudden release of water from NEEPCO hydel project was today indicated as a possible reason for the flash floods that have severely affected Dhemaji and Lakhimpur districts of Asom.

Talking to reporters here, state Water Resources Minister Bharat Chandra Narah said that the Deputy Commissioner had been ordered to probe the matter.

He informed that the current spate of flood had affected 500 villages in the state, with more than 26,000 hectares of crop land inundated.

He said a large area had gone under in Lakhimpur district as a result of breaches in eight embankments. Incessant rains have caused heavy floods from the Kakoi, Singara and Durpang rivers.

The situation in Dhemaji district, which had come under a flash flood on Thursday last, continued to be grim, the minister said.

More than 40,000 people were affected and 145 villages inundated in the district, with the floods washing away a part of the national highway and several important bridges.

Mr Narah claimed that the state government was well poised to handle the situation and rescue and relief operations were on.

Two helicopters had also been pressed into service to shift people to safer places and drop food packets.

The nine-member Disaster Management Authority, under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, would be operational from August 1, which will address various issues to mitigate the ufferings of the affected areas, he added.

UNI