Exclusive research wing to study Asom flood

Guwahati, Jul 31 (UNI) The Asom government today announced the setting up a research wing exclusively for studying the flood pattern in the state and help the government manage the annual problem more efficiently.

Stating this at a press meet here, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said the research wing would get functional within a couple of months. It would be attached to the Science and Technology department and would only be a study unit with no responsibility of implementation, he said adding expertise of the Indian Institute of Technology would also be sought and scholarship offered to interested candidates.

Ruing that the flood was an annual problem in the state, Mr Gogoi said the research wing would be devoted to study in depth various issues related to flood like the frequency and pattern, if any, at which the rivers change course.

He said the government had decided to take preventive steps from this year itself for minimising damages in the next flood.

'' We have thought of ways for controlling the damages like dredging of rivers, studying how narrowing of rivers during construction of bridges leads to future flood, '' he added.

The Chief Minister said if neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh would have not opposed the recommendation of a committee, formed for better management of the water bodies in the region, Asom's flood problem could have been resolved to a great extent.

'' But they are interested in construction of dams for power generation only, and not flood control, '' he added.

Mr Gogoi said he had once more taken up the matter with the Arunachal Chief Minister.

The state government would, however, take steps within its boundary and the research wing would be helpful in decreasing the state's dependence on the Centre for assistance.

UNI