In a significant development push for southern Assam, State Water Resources Minister Pijush Hazarika on Tuesday inaugurated a series of key infrastructure projects aimed at tackling river erosion, enhancing urban water security, and modernizing police facilities in Cachar district.
Major Anti-Erosion Initiative for Barak River Bank
The cornerstone of the day's events was the foundation laying for a Rs 400 crore anti-erosion project at Lakhipur. This ambitious scheme is designed to protect Binnakandi Pt-II and surrounding villages located along the vulnerable left bank of the Barak River. The area, part of the Lakhipur assembly constituency, has faced severe and recurring land loss due to erosion.
The project will employ advanced engineering solutions, including A-type geo bags, porcupine structures, and geo-synthetic fabric sheets, to stabilize the riverbank and shield large tracts of land and communities.
Addressing a gathering that included Minister Kaushik Rai, Hazarika highlighted the government's systematic, mission-mode strategy for managing floods and erosion. He presented a stark comparison, noting that while approximately 4,500 km of embankments were constructed in the seven decades following Independence, the current administration has built nearly 1,000 km in just the last four-and-a-half years.
Boosting Public Safety and Urban Water Security
Expanding the focus to public safety, Minister Hazarika laid foundation stones for new police stations at Kachudaram and Sonai. He emphasized that creating modern, citizen-friendly policing infrastructure is a fundamental component of responsive and effective governance.
In a critical move to safeguard Silchar's drinking water supply, the minister also flagged off a Rs 2.20 crore anti-erosion project at Uttarkrishnapur Pt-II. This initiative is specifically aimed at protecting the AMRUT water intake plant, a vital asset for the city's potable water system.
Addressing Chronic Waterlogging in Bilpar
Further addressing civic infrastructure, Hazarika laid the foundation stone for a Rs 4.80 crore Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) drain project over the Singirkhal canal in Bilpar. This project is expected to provide a permanent solution to the persistent problem of waterlogging in the area, improving living conditions and urban drainage.
The cluster of projects underscores a concentrated effort by the Assam government to address long-standing infrastructure deficits in Cachar district, combining disaster resilience with essential public service upgrades.
