Assam: DC Hailakandi inspects flood protection works

Ahead of the monsoons, Deputy Commissioner, Hailakandi district of Assam, Adil Khan today inspected the ongoing anti-erosion and other flood protection works along the Katakhal river in some severe flood affected parts of the district.

Deputy Commissioner Khan first inspected the ongoing Tasla dam including breach closing work and instructed the Superintending Engineer, Hailakandi Water Resources Division, Subrata Das to complete the work of 210 metres within the current month. The total estimated cost is Rs.4.05 crore under SDRF for 2017-18. The project also includes measures to improve Dhaleswari and Katakhal drainage basins under Phase-II.

The next spot the Deputy Commissioner inspected was Gaglacherra (Natun Bazar Phase I) where construction of a new 100-metre road cum embankment and anti-erosion work fortified with geo-bags was completed last month at a total estimated cost of Rs.1.77 crore. Here seven numbers of ponds had to be filled up as seepages caused damage to the embankment.

Apart from Gaglacherra, the other anti-erosion project completed recently is located at Bashdhar to the tune of Rs.85 lakh.

The next inspection site was at Boroituli where plugging of three numbers of breaches are going on together with anti-erosion work at a total stretch of 716 meters involving Rs.2.30 crore. Problems have cropped up on erecting a ring bund due to compensation related issue and obstruction posed by some elements in carrying earth to the spot. The Deputy Commissioner asked Superintendent of Police Mohneesh Mishra to look into the matter so that no one could put a spanner in government activities.”No one will be allowed to obstruct work of public projects as it is an offence and therefore strict action will be taken against such anti-social elements,” Khan asserted. The Deputy Commissioner asked the contractors to sort out the compensation issue with the concerned parties.

Besides the Tasla and Boroituli flood protection works, the two other anti-erosion works under Flood Management Programme 2014-15 presently going on are at Katlicherra Bagan along Katakhal river and Panchgram along Barak river at an estimated cost of Rs 14.27 crore and Rs.17.57 crore respectively. Around 70 per cent of the works have been done and the remaining would be completed within this month, assured Superintending Engineer, Water Resources to the Deputy Commissioner.

The Deputy Commissioner was accompanied by District Development Commissioner, FR Laskar and other senior officials.