SILCHAR : Minister for Water Resources, Information, Public Relations and Parliamentary Affairs Piyush Hazarika reached Silchar on Monday on a two-day visit to Barak valley. Minister Pijush Hazarika visited Betukandi to inspect the dam. The minister inspected both sides of the newly constructed sluice and spoke to senior officials of the concerned department.

While talking to the reporters, the Minister said that this time the situation is not as dire as last year, the department done good work and almost double the required work.  He said that nothing happened to the sluice gate, but the deflector 30 meters away from the sluice gate was affected, which was given temporarily, which would have to be concreted later, he said.  

The Minister promised that another sluice gate will be constructed at Betukandi at a cost of Rs 10 crore in the future so that surrounding areas including Moishabil, Silchar can be saved from flood water.  The Minister mentioned that double shutter sluice gate is required and the construction work will be started from October.  

In response to the questions of the journalists, the Minister also said ” we are ready to deal with the flood,  geo bags and 95 thousand Porcupine sets have already been sent to various districts, 70 percent of which have already been sent so that immediate action can be taken”. 

The Minister said that the Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sharma has already directed the Deputy commissioner and concerned departmental officials to take necessary measures to prevent floods through video conference.  Later the Minister left Silchar Circuit House for Hailakandi to attend various programs.This is stated in a press release issued from Regional office of Information & Public Relations Barak valley Zone Silchar Assam.