GUWAHATI: Bhubon Pegu, the General Secretary of Sanmilito Ganashakti, Assam slammed the government for the lack of a definite flood control policy and demanded it to publish a white paper on flood and erosion problems plaguing the State. The party also demanded the Government to hold special Assembly sessions every year on flood and erosion, so that the Centre takes note of the grave problem faced by the State each monsoon. Speaking to mediapersons here today, the general secretary of the party said that the government is clueless about what to do with the flood and erosion problem of Assam. “Fund has always been a problem with the State government. But unless the government formulates a clear-cut flood policy, the Central Government will not give the proper amount required for a permanent solution of the flood problem of Assam. He further said, “Even the funds available with the Government to fight this problem has not been implemented and utilized properly. The Government should sit for a different Assembly Session every year, devoted entirely on flood and erosion problem during the month of October. ” He also said that an overall assessment should be carried out within October, after the flood season is over and budget should be earmarked and released within November so that works could be started within December and completed within April. Most of the works are started after the March budget session and works remain incomplete. Most of the half done work is then washed away in the flood, which finally makes the whole effort meaningless. This also paves way for rampant corruption and malpractice in flood control works, alleged the party. The party further condemned the Government for their inaction to start flood related works in Dhemaji district. The party stating that the half kilometre breach in the highway that took place after the Gai river lashed its fury have not yet been repaired. Even the roads of the Sisiborgaon and Amguri panchayats, which were breached on the same day last year has not yet been repaired. “No rehabilitation and compensation has reached the flood affected people till date even after the declaration of 100 crore by the Chief Minister himself last year.” On the Prime Minister’s assistance of 500 crore for relief and rehabilitation for the flood affected people, the General secretary of the body said, “The Prime Minister should have declared something for the permanent solution of flood and erosion problem of Assam. But instead, he chose to leave the people of Assam at the mercy of floods and erosion for more years to come.” Expressing displeasure that the slow progress of works, Pegu said, “ The government lacks the political will to fight rampant corruption in the departments entrusted for flood control works.” Citing the example of the exquiry conducted into the allegation of rampant corruption and misuse of funds, during the construction of the Matmora Brahmaputra dyke in Kalhimpur district and Jiadhal embankment in Dhemaji district, where subsequently more than 12 offers of the Water Resources Department were suspended during August 2008, Pegu said, the enquiry has met with a dead end, and delivered no results. The party, therefore demanded the government to continue relief for the next four months and the immediate release of compensation for all flood affected people of the August 15, 2011 flood that suffered huge damages due to overflow of the Gai River in Sisiborgaon development block in Dhemaji district. The body also demanded immediate reparing of all flood damaged roads and infrastructure in Sisiborgaon development block. The party also said that like the MNREGA guidelines in places like Ladakh of J & K allow for release of funds in single instalment, the same should be done in case of Assam.