Water, Water Everywhere

Flood has become synonymous with Assam. With the kind of attitude displayed by the successive governments both in Delhi and Dispur - a strong sense of indignation have occupied the mind space of the Assamese people as they have started believing that there is no respite from this annual deluge.

- Partha Jyoti Borah

As the water is receding in various parts of Assam only to inundate again, Assam Water Resource Minister Keshav Mahanta is spotted in Delhi while scribbling this piece with an empty bowl in anticipation of filling it up with relief package. Flood in Assam is a yearly phenomenon and has become synonymous with the North-eastern state. With the kind of attitude displayed by the successive governments- both in Delhi and Dispur - a strong sense of indignation have occupied the mind space of the Assamese people as they have started believing that there is no respite from this annual deluge.

Last year, after the formation of the new government, a delegation of almost the entire Assam cabinet, led by Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal met Union Road Transport and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari. There was ‘historical’ announcements aftermath – mighty Brahmaputra will be dredged completely before the first spell of monsoon rain and the sands pulled during the dredging will be used in constructing highways along the entire stretch of the river bank in both sides. Insiders who were present in the meeting have different story tell. Gadkari had bluntly rebuked Assam government’s entire idea of dredging the river for flood management; and advised the conformist delegation to talk to water resource minister. However, he had agreed in principle to dredge the mighty river from the perspective of shipping. While doing so he had proposed a barter system, Central government will do it for free but in return will take the sand to construct highways in other parts of the country. This proves an incoherent approach towards dealing with the deluged river on part of the state government.