Assam to have Dredging Corporation to handle flood, erosion

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today proposed to set up a Dredging Corporation to tackle flood and erosion problems, besides getting recommendations for 41 Centre-funded schemes worth Rs 1,387 crore.
"In view of the critical erosion problem, channelisation of River Brahmaputra, Barak and its tributaries and reclamation of lost land has become highly necessary. I propose to set up a Dredging Corporation for this purpose," Gogoi said while presenting the state Budget for 2014-15.
The department concerned has already initiated action to constitute a group of experts, comprising national and international persons, for advising the government in this regard, he said.

"The Water Resources department has got recommendation of Government of India for 41 flood management schemes costing about Rs 1,387 crore. Approval for eight schemes costing Rs 42 crore has been received by the department under the Chief Minister's special package in Barak valley.
"Another seven schemes costing about Rs 70 crore in Tinsukia district is under consideration," Gogoi said.
Regarding soil conservation, the Budget proposed to develop about 3.73 lakh hectares rain fed and waste land and 5,400 hectares of unproductive cultivable land in this fiscal.

"The department has reclaimed 4,445 hectares of waste land during 2013-14. RCC check dams to increase agricultural productivity of about 1,786 hectares gullied lands and development of about 3,333 hectares of riverine land have been proposed this year," it added.

Talking about increasing forest cover in the state, Gogoi said the Budget has proposed to create 12,000 hectares of plantation and to distribute more than one crore seedlings during 2014-15.
On the rural land revenue, he said "As the existing land revenue in the present day context is too low, it is proposed to enhance land revenue to Rs 30 per bigha in case of rural areas. The land revenue of town land will also be enhanced commensurately.