NEEPCO water release and rains cause flood in Assam

Guwahati, Jun 18 (PTI) Release of dam water by
N.E.E.P.C.O. and heavy rains in neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh
have caused flash floods in Assam's Lakhimpur district
claiming 21 lives in the last one week, Assam Chief Minister
Tarun Gogoi said Wednesday.

"N.E.E.P.C.O. was earlier denying that they were
releasing the water. But we sent teams to inspect for the
first time and found the water being released," Gogoi told
reporters here.

"N.E.E.P.C.O. (North East Electric Power Corporation Ltd)
has now been instructed to inform us before they release water
and should do so gradually and not at one go. Last night they
informed us before releasing water," he said.

The deputy commissioners in the bordering districts of
Arunachal Pradesh have also been asked to keep in touch with
their counterparts in the neighbouring state for better
coordination of flood control, the Chief Minister said.

Pointing out finding a permanent solution to the flood
problem was not easy though it could be controlled, Gogoi said
global warming and changes in weather conditions leading to
melting of glaciers were causing floods not only in Assam but
all over the world.

Visiting the worst flood-hit Lakhimpur district, he said
the waters were receding though low-lying areas were still
submerged. It hit the construction of a bridge by army on
the breached NH-52 thereby cutting off the district from the
world.

Forty five army and B.S.F. boats had been pressed into
service to assist the district administration in rescuing 2500
flood-hit people so far, while relief materials were rushed
there.