Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari on Friday suddenly fell ill in Majuli in Upper Assam.
Gadkari was in Majuli to lay the foundation stone for a new scheme to protect the world’s largest river island from flood and erosion.
Officials told Northeast Now that Gadkari suddenly complained of dizziness during the inaugural function in the river island when Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal was addressing the gathering.
Local doctors were seen checking his blood pressure, and reportedly gave him some medication. Sources said despite his ill health, Gadkari rushed to Kazirnga in the evening to join a meeting with the Chief Ministers of NE states.
With an estimated cost of Rs. 233.57 crore, the scheme has been framed by Brahmaputra Board based on the recommendations of the central high level Expert Committee.
The committee members had visited the island at least twice a year to monitor and recommend anti-erosion measures. The scheme was sanctioned by Government of India in March, 2017. The funding for the project would be from Ministry of DoNER.
Majuli is a river island in the Brahmaputra river, which has formed because of silt deposits. The soil is without cohesion and thus, susceptible to erosion. Brahmaputra Board had carried out a lot of anti-erosion and pro-siltation measures, which had improved the situation of Majuli island.