Silts dredged from rivers to be used for road laying along banks: Gadkari

To address the annual problem of floods in several parts of the country, the government will construct roads along the banks of flood-prone rivers by using silts dug out by dredging. As an experiment, the mighty Brahmaputra would be the first project to be taken up. Road Transport and Highway and Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Minister Nitin Gadkari told UNI that during the monsoon, floods wreck havoc in several parts of the country causing widespread destruction to lives and properties.

And almost every year people in many parts of the country encounter this situation. He said that this problem needs to be addressed permanently and building roads from silt along the banks of the flood-prone rivers would be helpful. He said dredging would make the river deep thus preventing flood, the silt dug out would be used for laying roads. He said the roads would serve as a dual purpose while it will be helpful in taming the flood, it will also improve the connectivity of the states. The Minister said that due to floods in the Brahmaputra which was of great concern, there was great devastation every year in Assam leading to loss of life including wildlife and property in large scale for which he had asked officials to find a permanent and technical solution to this problem.

He said that when he asked the officials to make new experiments and take concrete steps, the building of express highway on either side of the mighty Brahmaputra river came to focus. The Minister said that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the express way was being prepared and he was hopeful that when built on the banks of the Brahmaputra it would prove useful in taming the flood. He also said that construction of dams have also proved to be effective in preventing the destruction caused due to floods. While, the dams stopped the rivers and controlled the flood, reservoirs were also proved to be useful useful in preventing floods, he added.

Official sources said that after the reshuffle of the Cabinet, Mr Gadkari, after taking charge as the Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga rejuvenation, took up this issue in his first review meeting with high officials. He told the officials to take technical assistance from IITs regarding controlling and exploring the possibility of how to make use of the such materials in preventing flood. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal some months back in a programme had said that he had discussed with Mr Gadkari about construction of express highway on both sides of Brahmaputra which would help prevent bank erosion and flood.