March 18: A Malaysian firm has bagged the global bid for constructing the Matmora embankment at Dhakuwakhana in Lakhimpur district.
Imaskira will start work this month on the weak embankment along the Brahmaputra that breaches the embankment every year, causing devastating floods in Dhakuwakhana and areas extending up to Majuli.
The company has to complete construction of the embankment within 100 days, failing which there will be levy of fine of additional interest against the money paid .
Imaskira has started assembling equipment and machinery at Matmora to start work by this month, an official of the Lakhimpur district administration said.
The company will also have to maintain the embankment for the next five years after its completion and will be liable for any damage or fault during this time.
Matmora hit the headlines for the devastating floods in the area last year that displaced thousands of people.
The Centre has sanctioned Rs 132.42 crore for the construction of the Matmora embankment with modern technology to permanently end the problems of floods and erosion in the area.
Planning and development and water resources minister Prithibi Majhi said last month that the Centre had given its nod to the Matmora project but the search for the construction firm was on.
In the third wave of floods last year, the Brahmaputra breached about 200 metres of the embankment at Matmora wreaking havoc in Lakhimpur and adjoining Dhemaji district.
Several other projects have also been sanctioned for flood-prone Lakhimpur district.
Bihpuria MLA Bhupen Bora said around Rs 20 crore had been released under the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) for Lakhimpur district.
“Flood is a big problem in these parts and last year water had even threatened Bihpuria town. Three projects under CRF have also been sanctioned in my constituency. I just hope people do not have to suffer as they did last year,” Bora said.
The three projects are Bihpuria town protection (Rs 5 crore), Jamuguri dyke (Rs 7 crore) and Durtang erosion (Rs 80 lakh).
The people blame the recurring onslaught of floods on corruption involving a minister, senior officials of the water resources department and the contractors.
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