Assam finance, health and PWD minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday laid the foundation stones of several infrastructure development works in Lakhimpur district.

Minister Sarma on Tuesday laid the foundation of an RCC bridge over river Ranganadi at Kharkati-Photasuti connecting Ahomoni-Mirigaon in the North Lakhimour sub-division.

He laid the foundation of the 240-metre bridge over Ranganadi at Kherkati which would be constructed at the estimated cost of Rs. 26.2 crore under State Owned Priority Development (SOPD) scheme for 2020-21.

The minister participated at the Bhumi Pujan of the construction work and addressed a Sankalpa Samaroh rally.

The foundation laying ceremony was attended by Lakhimpur MP Pradan Baruah, local MLA Utpal Dutta and social worker Manab Deka.

The villagers of Phatasutighat near Panigaon in the Lakhimpur district have been repeatedly constructing dozen bridges in the last eleven years without receiving any assistance and intervention from the state.

The wooden or weather bridges constructed by the villagers since 2009 have always been washed away by the floodwaters of the river in every monsoon.

Northeast Now carried out a report on the issue on December 9 last year.

Later, minister Sarma took part in a cycle rally from Panigaon Chariali to Bormuria Tiniali in North Lakhimpur.

After that, the minister took part in another rally at Khelmati in North Lakhimpur town and laid the foundation stone of a number of developmental works.

Farhana Ahmed is Northeast Now Correspondent in North Lakhimpur. She can be reached at: [email protected]