Sonowal talks to NITI Aayog chief on Assam floods

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today discussed about finding a permanent solution to the perennial flood problem in the state with NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar here, an official release said.
"Drawing attention of the NITI Aayog to the perennial problems of flood and erosion in the state, the chief minister stressed upon the need to find a permanent solution," it said.
Sonowal suggested setting up a multi-nation mechanism and allocation of funds to build road-cum-embankments in different parts of state.
He also stressed on the need to prevent erosion by rivers as it causes loss of nearly 8,000 hectors of land every year.

Kumar assured him of taking action in this regard.
The NITI Aayog top official said a recent meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to set up the Northeast Water Management Authority, where all the NE states will be stakeholders in managing the menace of flood.

Sonowal then suggested to take along Bhutan in the process for making the purpose of the Authority fruitful, to which Kumar responded in the affirmative, the release said.
Another key issue that came up for discussion during the meeting was implementation of an industrial policy for the region on the lines of North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy, 2007, which expired on March last year.

The chief minister urged the NITI Aayog to expedite the process of implementation of a new industrial policy to sustain the momentum of business and investment in the aftermath of the recently held global investors' summit.