AASU, AGP to discuss floods, peace with PM

Even as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s two-day visit to his ‘‘home state’’ begins tomorrow, the Opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) have urged him to make commitments on peace talks with ULFA and also come out with special provisions to solve the state’s erosion and flood problems.

‘‘We want the PM to ensure that the peace talks with ULFA are speeded up. Also, the people of Assam have long been demanding a permanent solution to the flood and erosion problem of the state,’’ said AGP general secretary and Lok Sabha member Sarbananda Sonowal.

In a memorandum to the PMO, Sonowal has sought special funds for the speedy completion of the fourth bridge on the Brahmaputra at Bogibeel near Dibrugarh. The delay in budgetary allocation has already hiked the estimated cost of the bridge by over Rs 200 crore.

The PM will arrive here tomorrow and will lay the foundation stone of a new power plant at Salakati near Kokrajhar, apart from inaugurating a craft village in Guwahati and attending a Coal India function in Upper Assam. He is also to attend a party meeting.