Jorhat: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Guwahati for his two-day visit to Assam on Saturday, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi demanded a white paper on central funds for flood and erosion control in the state.
He raised the demand during a day-long programme in Majuli. Gogoi urged the Centre to address Assam’s recurring flood and erosion crisis with transparency.
“We want the Prime Minister and the central government to seriously address the issue of floods and erosion in Assam. The Centre should release a white paper clearly stating how much funding it has allocated for flood and erosion control,” Gogoi said.
He also sought a state-wise comparison of disaster funds. “We want a comparison with states like Tamil Nadu and Gujarat to understand how much funding they received during similar calamities,” he added.
Gogoi highlighted several major infrastructure projects completed during the Congress-led government at the Centre. He said the Bogibeel Bridge and the Silchar–Lumding gauge conversion received National Project status and adequate financial support under former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He questioned how much Assam has actually received now for flood and erosion management.
Earlier, on October 7, the Union government approved additional central assistance of ?313.69 crore for Assam for flood and landslide recovery in 2024. The High-Level Committee chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah cleared the funds. The Centre sanctioned ?707.97 crore in total for Assam and Gujarat, with Gujarat receiving ?394.28 crore.