ASSAM govt hails sanctions of over 300 crore INR by Centre for flood management program

ASSAM Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has appreciated the announcement of the initial assistance of 345 crore INR for ensuring effective management of relief and rehabilitation works in flood-ravaged   Assam. Following talks with CM Sonowal, Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has committed to release  346 crore rupees immediately from his Ministry to Assam as the first instalment under Flood Management Programme (FMP). The Union Minister conveyed it to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal during a video conference. The Chief Minister had urged the Union Minister to allocate funds to the State Government to strengthen 5,000 kms of embankments built since 1951 in the state saying these would now be turned into road cum embankments. Responding to the request made by  CM Sonowal to take up the matter of floodwaters from Bhutan inundating annually several parts in lower Assam, Shekhawat has also assured him that the Centre would soon hold discussions with the Bhutan Government on the issue. Earlier,  Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken to CM Sonowal and reviewed the situation in the wake of flooding and landslides in parts of the state.PM Modi assured all possible support from the Centre to help those affected in the north-eastern state.