The problem is grave. Present is tense while the future is indefinite. Yes, we are talking of the flood problem that ravages the state every year.
The loss is an astronomical Rs 200 crore in average per year. This is what the figure state Economic Survey.
According to its recent report, the perennial problem submerges 40 per cent of the state’s total land. The extent of loss rose to the tune of Rs 500 crore in 1998.
During 2004, the figure went up to Rs 771 crore. The survey puts 31,500 sq km area as flood-prone quoting the assessment of the Rastriya Barh Ayog which is about 39.58 per cent of the total land area of Assam.
According to the official records, the average annual area affected by flood is 9.31 lakh hectares. The flood protected area of the state is 16,500 sq km (16.5 lakh hectares) till date.
The scale of the problem has grown with massive erosion, which stands at an average rate of 8,000 hectares every year in the state with a total of 4.27 lakh hectares of land having been washed away since 1950.
The State Water Resources Department has been implementing numerous flood management schemes from the beginning of 2nd Five Year Plan and are continuing till now, running into several thousands of crores. But the mighty river has yet to be tamed.
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