PM announces task force for permanent flood solution

Describing the Assam flood situation as "very serious and grave", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday announced the formation of a high-powered task force to report to the central government, within six months, the ways to find a permanent solution to the recurring flood problem.

Addressing a press conference at the Lokopriyo Gopinath International Airport, following a day-long visit to the flood-affected Assam, the prime minister also announced that a central team would soon visit the state to assess the damage caused by the unprecedented floods in order to facilitate further relief to the victims.

The prime minister said as an immediate relief, the Centre had already given Rs 46 crore from the calamity relief fund and Rs 55 crore from the calamity relief contingency fund. The prime minister said for flood protection measures an additional amount of Rs 90 crore would be sanctioned in the next half of the Tenth Five Year Plan.

The high power task force would evolve a holistic view of the flood situation and suggest short-, medium- and long-term measures to solve the problem, he said.

The prime minister said the flood problem requires active cooperation of the central government. "Whether national or not, the central government has to take active interest in the state", he added.

Asked about the excess water from Bhutan and China that had aggravated the flood problem in the state, the prime minister said, "we have to discuss it with those countries".

He said the funds so far sanctioned by the Centre to cope with the flood situation was not enough as the "floods have defied solution for long''.

"We have to look at the problem from the entire north eastern region's point of view and evolve a system to ensure a common solution'', he added.

The prime minister said, "we should look at the ground situation and the Centre is alive of its responsibilities and whatever is necessary to help the state government to tide over the natural crisis, the Centre will provide.''

A massive rescue and relief operation throughout the state had been already initiated and an adequate supply of essentials had been made available to the people, he said.

The prime minister said the Brahmaputra board needs to be revamped immediately and would be made more effective to deal with Assam's flood problem.

"The primary aim of my visit is to assess the ground realities after the massive flood and to go back and analyse every aspect in detail'', he added.

Once the reports of the central team and high-powered task force were made available, the Centre would sanction more funds to the state, the prime minister said.

Meanwhile, the prime minister today praised the role of the army in providing succour to the flood-affected people of Assam.

"The prime minister had a word of praise for the army jawans and the Indian Airforce and urged them to continue with the good job", goc 4 Corps Lt Gen Anup Singh Jamwal today said here at the airport.

The prime minister said that in this hour of crisis, the good work done by the army would never be forgotten by the victims and even the country would be eternally grateful.

The goc made a detailed presentation to the prime minister on the extent of damages caused by the floods and the detail deployment of troops, helicopters and speed boats. The goc said he had issued instructions to army units throughout the state to rush to the help of flood victims even in the remotest corner.