GUWAHATI: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi reached Assam to review the flood situation on Monday.
Welcoming him at the Kumbhirgram airport, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) chief Bhupen Bora and other leaders handed him a memorandum to address the severe flood crisis in Assam during the Lower House session.
While detailing the grave flood situation in the state, Bora alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Assam has not received the necessary relief aid from the Centre over the past five years.
“In these five years, the BJP government in Assam requested Rs 10,785 crore for flood-related relief and reconstruction but received only Rs 250 crore,” Bora’s alleged.
Criticising the Assam government for failing to secure adequate funds from the Centre, he told Gandhi, “On behalf of the people of Assam, we request you to kindly take up our matter in the Lok Sabha as a special case and help us secure adequate relief and compensation for the severe losses incurred due to the floods from the Government of India.”
Providing a detailed account of the relief aid requested and received, the Assam Congress chief noted that, in the absence of adequate funds, 53 embankments, which “have a lifespan of 20-25 years”, have been damaged, and many more are deteriorating.
“The long-term solution, therefore, is a pan-Northeast water management authority, suitably empowered by Parliament, to do everything necessary to control floods,” the APCC chief highlighted.
Scheduled next on Gandhi’s itinerary is a visit to a relief camp for flood victims in Furethal, Cachar district, situated along the route to Manipur’s Jiribam district.
Following his visit to Jiribam, Gandhi will fly back to Silchar airport before proceeding to Imphal for the continuation of his tour across Manipur.
