After facing strong criticism from the opposition parties and students’ organisations, the Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil visited Assam for an assessment of the flood situation and announced a package of Rs 500 crore, but one fails to understand why the Centre waited for so long to announce such a package. It is unfortunate that the people of Assam are forced to agitate even to get funds from the Centre for flood relief and such attitude of the Central Government will create a feeling of alienation among the people of the State. The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh was in the State on August 25 and 26 when most parts of Assam were reeling under devastating floods, but unfortunately, he refrained from visiting any of the flood-affected area and he even failed to make an aerial survey of the affected areas to assess the gravity of the situation. However, immediately thereafter, Dr Singh, who represents Assam in the Rajya Sabha, visited Bihar for an on the spot assessment of the flood situation and announced a Central grant of Rs one thousand crore. This action of the Prime Minister gave enough ammunition to the opposition parties and students’ organisations of Assam to launch a scathing attack against Dr Singh and finally the Union Home Minister visited the State on September 14 to announce the Central package. However, the Union Home Minister was in Assam only for a few hours and one fails to understand how he was expected to understand the gravity of the situation and sufferings of the flood-affected people by making only an aerial survey of only a few of the affected areas of the State. Under the circumstances, the visit of the Union Minister can at best be described only as a damage control exercise.
The Union Home Minister also asserted that funds would not be a problem for taking up long term measures for permanent solution of the problems of flood and erosion. He called upon the State Government to chalk out long term schemes and claimed that apart from the Centre, different external agencies would also be ready to provide funds for implementation of such schemes. But the people of Assam have heard such assurances from the Central Ministers for years and if the Centre is really interested in solving the problems of flood and erosion, immediate steps should be taken on the ground as mere assurances will not help Assam in any way. The people of Assam have every reason to doubt the sincerity of the Government of India as in the past also, assurances given by the Central Ministers remained on paper only and even the recommendations given by a Task Force created by the Prime Minister for solution of the problems are gathering dust as no step has yet been taken to implement the same. The promise of setting up of North East Water Resources Authority also remained on paper as the Central Government has not been able to convince the Government of Arunachal Pradesh about the need for creating such a body. source: assam tribune editorial 17.09.08
The Union Home Minister also asserted that funds would not be a problem for taking up long term measures for permanent solution of the problems of flood and erosion. He called upon the State Government to chalk out long term schemes and claimed that apart from the Centre, different external agencies would also be ready to provide funds for implementation of such schemes. But the people of Assam have heard such assurances from the Central Ministers for years and if the Centre is really interested in solving the problems of flood and erosion, immediate steps should be taken on the ground as mere assurances will not help Assam in any way. The people of Assam have every reason to doubt the sincerity of the Government of India as in the past also, assurances given by the Central Ministers remained on paper only and even the recommendations given by a Task Force created by the Prime Minister for solution of the problems are gathering dust as no step has yet been taken to implement the same. The promise of setting up of North East Water Resources Authority also remained on paper as the Central Government has not been able to convince the Government of Arunachal Pradesh about the need for creating such a body. source: assam tribune editorial 17.09.08
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