PM assures central help to Assam to tackle floods

Singh has assured an all-party delegation from Assam that the Centre would help the state in tackling the serious flood situation.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday assured an all-party delegation from Assam that the Centre would help the state in tackling the serious flood situation.

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After meeting the Prime Minister, Speaker of Assam Assembly Prithibi Majhi, who led the delegation, told reporters here that it submitted a detailed memorandum to him. Singh gave a patient hearing and assured that the Centre would extend all possible help to the state, he said.

In order to restore damaged infrastructure alone, the state required Rs 6,500 crore under Central Relief Fund, the delegation demanded and suggested that Rs 1,000 crore be released immediately to start the restoration work.

Demanding that floods in Assam be declared as a "national problem," he said that flood control measures be treated as infrastructure development.

In view of the acute financial crisis faced by the state, the memorandum demanded waiving the outstanding debt on account of central loan assistance for implementation of various flood control schemes amounting to Rs 410 crore.

Referring to the Prime Minister's announcement of Rs 81 crore for Central Sector Flood Management schemes during his visit to Assam last month, the delegation requested him to expedite payment of the grant.

The delegation included Bhumidhar Barman, Anjan Dutta and Hemoprova Saikia, Pranab Gogoi, Dileshwar Tanti,Alok Ghose, Pabindra Deka and Idrish Ali.