PM Modi announces Rs 100cr corpus to study & find permanent solution to flood problem in North-East

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1 August 2017 announced a Rs 100 crore corpus to study and find a permanent solution to the flood problem in the North-Eastern states of India.

In addition to this corpus of Rs 100 crore, the Prime Minister also announced Rs 2350 crore as an immediate aid for the North East after holding a review meeting on the flood situation with several North Eastern states in Guwahati.

The corpus was announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Guwahati, Assam. He was in Assam to take stock of flood situation of Assam and few other North-Eastern States.

During the visit, Modi chaired a series of high-level meetings to review the flood situation and relief operations. The meeting was attended by the Chief Ministers and senior officials of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur.

Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the Prime Minister has announced this corpus to find a long-term solution to the flood problem in the region by setting up a high- powered committee and a research project to study Brahmaputra River and its role in creating a devastating flood.

Assam Water Resource minister Keshab Mahanta said that Rs 250 crore has already been released for Assam for immediate rehabilitation measures. He said the Prime Minister announced Rs 2000 crore rupees for flood affected North Eastern states for infrastructure development.

The Prime Minister also asserted that Assam’s problem is also the problem of the country and assured to take steps to convert problems into possibilities.

Earlier in July 2017, the Prime Minister had announced Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives in the floods in Assam. 82 persons died due to flood this year in Assam. Modi also announced Rs 50 thousand each from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for those seriously injured.

Flood water affected nearly 30 lakh people in 29 districts in Assam. Flood water also submerged huge crop land, wildlife parks and damaged infrastructures. An inter-ministerial team has already visited Assam to assess the damages caused by flood and erosion. The Assam government submitted a memorandum to the team assessing the initial loss to the tune of nearly Rs 3000 crore.