GUWAHATI: The Opposition parties on Monday criticized the 2013–14 State budget presented by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in the Assembly and slammed it as ‘anti–people’.

Reacting to the budget, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) president Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said, “It seems that the budget presented by the Chief Minister in the Assembly was prepared as per the directions of Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank (WB). Most of the schemes proposed in the budget are likely to be taken up with the help of loan money.”

Sitapur: Taking a cue from their counterparts in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh, who participated in neck-deep ‘Jal Satyagraha’ in September 2012 demanding the lowering of the water level in th

Guwahati: Union Minister of Water Resources Harish Rawat has said that the Centre will work with the Assam government to find a lasting solution to the recurring flood and erosion problem.

He was apprised on the gravity of the annual problem by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi during a meeting here on Wednesday evening. Mr Gogoi said the erosion of river banks and its tributaries have been a significant factor responsible for aggravating flood problem in the state.

GUWAHATI: Dispur is eagerly waiting for the Central government’s nod to include land erosion caused by the rivers in the State as an eligible calamity for relief under National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).

The eagerness of the Assam government is justifiable as the State Water Resources Department is in need of huge fund to undertake repair and maintenance of several age–old embankments, and to implement erosion protection schemes across the State. The inclusion of erosion as an eligible calamity for relief under NDRF and SDRF would help the Water Resources Department get access to Central fund meant for tackling natural disasters.

New Delhi: The World Bank has lined up an over $4.83-billion loan to India for ramping up road and rail infrastructure over the next five years as part of country assistance programme to help boost economic development, officials said on Thursday.

The bank is also looking at funding possibilities in ports and inland waterways projects, being planned by the government during the 12th Plan period. However, the funding from the bank could come with riders on safety and maintenance.

GUWAHATI: There is no let up in the problem of land erosion caused by the Brahmaputra and its tributaries in Assam.