Guwahati: As part of the Assam Integrated River Basin Management Programme (AIRBMP), the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) is set to retrofit 30 schools used as flood shelters and construct 10 new multipurpose flood shelters in the flood-prone districts of Baksa, Barpeta, Sonitpur, Biswanath, Lakhimpur, Golaghat, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar and Majuli.
The contract for the project was signed by Gyanendra Dev Tripathi, Chief Executive Officer of ASDMA, with GKW Consult GmBH & Vision EIS Consulting Pvt Ltd.
These firms will serve as Design Management and Supervision Consultants (DMSC) to oversee the retrofitting and construction work.
Speaking on the occasion, Tripathi emphasized the importance of close monitoring for efficient implementation of these activities.
The retrofitting aims to make the schools multi-hazard resilient, serving both the flood-affected and the students.
The new multipurpose flood shelters will provide refuge during floods and will be available for community use during non-flood seasons.
In addition to the retrofitting and new constructions, AIRBMP has constituted 50 Circle Quick Response Teams (CQRTs) across 18 districts of Assam.
These teams will act as first responders during disasters or emergencies.
The DMSC consultant will establish a Material Bank housing lifesaving equipment for CQRT members.
The teams will receive training in basic life support strategies and search and rescue techniques. Eleven CQRT material banks are set to be installed in selected circles of Barpeta, Golaghat, Majuli, Lakhimpur, Sivasagar, Cachar, and Dima Hasao.
The primary objective of AIRBMP is to mitigate climate-related disaster risks to people’s livelihoods by strengthening institutions, bridging knowledge gaps, and implementing comprehensive solutions through a structured basin-wide planning process.
The program, spanning ten years, follows a three-phase Multiphase Programmatic Approach (MPA).
An estimated $135 million will be invested in Phase I, focusing on the Beki and Buridehing river basins to protect around 100,000 individuals.
This phase aims to enhance the state’s disaster response capabilities, including advanced flood forecasting and secure evacuation facilities, providing flood-resistant shelters for at least 10,000 people and building climate resilience in communities.
The program will finance various flood and river erosion control infrastructure projects, including new and upgraded embankments, drainage canals, polders, flood control gates, engineered wetlands, flood retention areas, and watershed improvements.