Prafulla Kumar Mahanta is into the third year of his second term as the Chief Minister of Assam - a state known for its tea, insurgency and floods. Having effectively fought dissidence within his party, the Asom Gana Parishad, despite the poor showing in the February parliamentary elections, Mahanta still has his plate full, with Bodo, ULFA and now Islamic militancy. To top it is a population fed up of the Army's overbearing presence in the state, lack of development and absence of jobs.Just before embarking on a survey of the Kaziranga National Park, where rare one-horn rhinos are threatened by floods, the Chief Minister sat down for an interview with Suparna Sharma.With no spectacular achievements to boast of, Mahanta continuously talked about ``giving a fresh look'' to the state and sending proposals to Delhi. Excerpts:Two bomb blasts last month and the killing of 35 people in Kokrajhar district on September 15. Would you still say the law and order situation in the state isunder control?The problem is that law and order in Assam is related to insurgency. In Kokrajhar, people had demanded the Army's withdrawal. The decision, taken by the Unified Command, was to withdraw on an experimental basis. But in the meantime, Assam police and the CRPF were not able to take their positions, when these ethnic riots took place. Yesterday, we reviewed the situation. In two-three days, it will all be normal.But that is the nature of the Bodo-Santhal violence - it erupt s and die down suddenly.The problem is in the agreement signed by the Assam Government, Union Government and Bodo groups, under which only those villages with more than 50 per cent tribal population are to be included in the Bodo Autonomous Council (BAC). Therefore, Bodos started ethnic cleansing to acquire more villages.What about your promise that by August end you will demarcate the BAC area?The process is on. The delay is because of a high court order in this regard (in June 1997, the courtordered that no village with less than 50 per cent tribal population be included in the Bodo Autonomous Council). We have asked our advocates to take up the issue with the high court.On the Bodo issue, you have often threatened to reveal the forces behind.Everybody knows that the Congress is behind the problem. They back the Bodo leaders and tell them not to arrive at any solution. In the case of Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) also, the Congress is backing them.Despite surveys and statements, there has been no relief from your government for the 50 lakh people rendered homeless by floods.After 1950, the floods this year have been the worst - affecting 21 of the 23 districts and more than 50 lakh people. So we have asked the Central Government for funds for relief measures.But the Centre has not yet responded.We have submitted our proposal. Let us see.Uttar Pradesh has reportedly been promised Rs 200 crore.The Prime Minister announced that Rs 41 crore begiven to Assam - which is our share in the National Calamities Fund. We have sent our proposal for more funds. I don't want to blame anyone. Floods affect everybody.Since floods are an annual feature in Assam, what could be a long-term solution?A permanent solution is required. Every year, all the developmental works are eaten up by floods. The Brahmaputra Board has submitted several flood-control schemes to the Water Resource Ministry in Delhi, but not a single scheme has been approved.What about reports that it is not cost effective to control a river like the Brahmaputra with dams and that Assam has to learn to live with floods?We cannot live with floods. It is the duty of the Government to control them. Proposals should be scientifically prepared, then the problem can be solved.But are you anywhere near a solution?No. But the Centre should take some initiative. They can approve schemes and then if they say that money is not available, we can approach privatefinancial institutions. For not just floods but irrigation and power generation.Moving to the ULFA, what do you have to say about Union Home Minister L.K. Advani's recent statement that the problem be left to the state Government?(Smiles) That was in response to a question by a reporter.But is it indicative of a policy decision?The state Government must, with the help of the Centre, solve the ULFA problem. We have asked militants to come for negotiations. They want a separate country, and we are clear on that count - the sovereignty of the country cannot be compromised. But if they have other demands, then we can look into them.But in Nagaland, with a stronger insurgency group, at least temporary peace has been bought.That is a good thing. The National Socialist Council of Nagaland is the mother of all insurgencies in the North-east. In Nagaland's case, the Central Government took the initiative to talk with the Isak-Muivah group. In Assam, the problem is that thoughthe ULFA's district-level leaders are willing to negotiate, the top leaders, living outside the country, are not willing. The ISI is backing them.About the 191 militants who surrendered at functions organised by the Army in July and August. You seemed to be indicating that you did not approve of the exercise.No. (Laughs) It is an experiment.Not a solution, but part of a solution. We say that they should be absorbed outside the state because in Assam, we cannot provide them security. And we fear the creation of another SULFA. But if someone wants to return to the mainstream, we have no objection. If there is a cat in the room, we cannot close all doors, windows and ventilators. Then it will jump at us.This being your second term, do you see the state having progressed under your regime?My priority today is peace. Without that there can be no development. I inherited insurgency, and a debt of Rs 600 crore. We have taken a fresh initiative towards developing the state, but whatever weachieve, floods push it back. We have been asking industrialists to set up industries and told them that we will provide land. Some industrialists have agreed to set up juice plants. We have also been urging farmers to grow more than just one crop a year. We are beginning to get results.Since big industries have not yet started coming in, don't you think concentrating on small industries makes sense?We always encourage them, but marketing is a big problem. They cannot take their finished product outside the state. So we have started upgrading the airport to international standards. Do you know that last year, the farmers of Mangaldoi had to sell their cabbage at 50 paise per kg? You have to understand the Assamese psyche also. They have for centuries been satisfied with a single crop. We are trying to change that.What about the Tata Tea case? It broke out more than a year ago but there has been no progress.(Looks at his watch) Law takes its own course. We will be chargesheeting them,soon. (Refuses to comment further).
