Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday said that BJP-led NDA will secure 12 plus seats in Assam and he is confident of a good show in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections to be held on April 26.

“As Prime Minister Narendra Modi led NDA goes to poll to secure another historic mandate from the people, we are confident that we will a minimum of12 plus seats in Assam, with more than 23 seats in the Northeast,” Sonowal said while addressing a press conference held in Silchar on Tuesday.

Sonowal gave full credit to the double-engine government of the BJP-led NDA govt for the transformation of the transportation sector in the entire Barak region since 2014.

With a special focus on the creation of infrastructure, the senior BJP leader confirmed how the BJP govt kept a focused approach to improve transportation, on all sides, be it road, railways, airways or waterways, to bring about positive transformation.

Sonowal further recounted the deplorable conditions of the road network in the region that people endured during the gnawing neglect of successive Congress governments.

Sarbananda Sonowal said, “Thanks to the double-engine government, the road network in the Barak valley has transformed tremendously. This is not just limited to the main highways, but the roads in villages and interiors have also improved considerably, thanks to the focused approach of the BJP govt to improve the condition of transportation in the valley. We must not forget how successive Congress governments let the roads of the valley crumble in gnawing neglect for years. As a Chief Minister, I took note of this deplorable condition and reposed the responsibility of PWD to a person who is from the region – Parimal Suklabaidya. And, we all know how things turned for good. Narendra Modi ji has always maintained that the transformation can only happen via transportation.”

Speaking further, Sarbananda Sonowal said, “When I served as Chief Minister, I devoted significant effort to address the pressing issues stemming from the poor condition of roads in Barak Valley, implementing ambitious measures. During the Congress regime, transportation in Barak suffered greatly. Recognising the plight of Barak’s residents, we initiated a new wave of development with the rallying cry of ‘Barak-Brahmaputra, Pahar-Bhaiyyam.’ During my tenure, approximately Rs 4,500 crore was allocated to execute various road projects aimed at upgrading Barak’s transportation network. Today, Barak is bustling in all directions, thanks to these endeavours. Our government succeeded in diminishing the gap–whether mental or physical–between Barak Valley and the Brahmaputra Valley, a divide perpetuated by the Congress.”

Calling the people of the valley to cast their vote for development, the senior BJP leader, Sarbananda Sonowal said, “Under the decisive leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a plethora of ambitious projects have been undertaken to enhance connectivity throughout Northeast India, with a substantial allocation exceeding Rs 5.50 lakh crore. This concerted effort has materialised the longstanding aspirations of the people of Barak. Consequently, the resounding support and confidence of the Barak populace predominantly lies with the BJP alliance.”

“I firmly believe that Parimal Suklabaidya, brimming with vitality and national fervour, will secure victory in the Silchar Lok Sabha constituency by a significant margin. This electoral season, the BJP-led NDA is poised to surpass 400 seats nationwide, and we are confident about it. I call upon the people of the Barak Valley to vote for the development and growth that one has been experiencing since 2014 under the Narendra Modi-led NDA govt and to sustain this momentum as we march together towards the goal of making our country Viksit Bharat by 2047,” he added.

Sarbananda Sonowal also highlighted the significant role of the Barak River as the lifeline of the region, emphasising its pivotal contribution to economic growth. He underscored the progress of various developmental projects underway in the Barak Valley, aligning with the ‘Act East’ Policy.

Notably, the stretch of the river spanning from Bhanga to Lakhipur (121 km) has been designated as National Waterway 16 (NW16), fostering connectivity between the Barak Valley, NW1, and the rest of India via IBP routes 3 & 4. Moreover, it facilitates linkage with NW2 (river Brahmaputra) through IBP routes 7 & 8.

These terminals play a crucial role in facilitating trade in the Barak Valley and surrounding areas.

The Karimganj terminal holds the status of a notified Port of Call, while Badarpur is an Extended Port of Call within NW16. Export via Inland Water Transport (IWT) has witnessed a remarkable surge in recent years, surpassing threefold in FY 2022-23 compared to FY 2021-22, with a total of 53 vessels carrying 9987 MT as opposed to 18 vessels carrying 2490 MT.

Renovation of the terminals on Barak Valley is poised to further streamline and augment export activities and the transportation of commodities. These projects exert a significant influence on the districts of Cachar, Karimganj, and Hailakandi in Assam, as well as neighbouring states such as Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur, and Meghalaya.

The presence of industries including cement, stone crushers, coal deposits, food processing units, and tea estates accentuates their impact on regional development. Additionally, the Kaladaan Multi-Modal project stands as a testament to the ongoing developmental initiatives in the Barak Valley, promising further integration and advancement of the region’s infrastructure and connectivity.

Update weather conditions to general public, provide safe drinking water and shades at public and strategic places, extending medical supports and other necessary provisions for the vulnerable communities in the districts.

“The District Administrations also been advised to activate the Emergency Operation Centres, keep alerting the Quick Response Teams and resources, ensuring uninterrupted power supply to all areas and taking support from other key agencies as and when required for safety and security of the citizens of the State”, it reads.

The advisory has also asked people to avoid going out in the sun, especially between 10.00 AM and 3 PM and advised to drink more water than usual.

“Wear lightweight, light-coloured, and porous cotton clothes. Use protective goggles, umbrella/hat while going out in the sun. Avoid taking alcohol, tea, coffee and carbonated soft drinks, which dehydrates the body. Avoid taking high-protein food and do not eat stale food. Keep animals in shade and give them plenty of water to drink”, it said.

They has also advised farmers to continue irrigation activities in summer maize, pulses and other crop and vegetables.

“Farmers are also advised to provide proper shelter and ventilation to animals especially during afternoon hours”, it added.