From our Correspondent

Itanagar, Aug 7: Recent flash flood triggered by heavy rainfall in the upper reaches has badly affected paddy fields, horticulture gardens, fish ponds, irrigation channels and water pipelines at Sille, Ruksin, Bilat and Mebo circles under East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Surging waters of various rivers and channels created havoc at different places of the district and left trails of devastation by eroding river banks, flood control dykes, irrigation systems and damaged paddy nurseries besides damaging PWD and link roads.

Flood also damaged several bamboo plantations, horticultural gardens and other valuable plantations in the respective riverbanks, official sources informed.

The affected people of the flood-hit areas alleged that so far no proper relief and rehabilitation measures being undertaken despite the authorities being informed of the situation. Moreover, the authority has not yet initiated proper flood control measures in the areas even after observing the lurking situation during the past years.

“Since the people of the flood-hit areas are economically backward and are fully dependent on agriculture and other allied farming activities, they need assistance from the authorities to meet with the heavy losses. But the government’s apathy is adding to the rural farmers’ woes,” lamented some of the affected people.

According to reports  flash flood inundated about 3,500 hectares crop land resulting in loss of food grains amounting to 8, 400 MT. It caused a loss of Rs 6.72 crore in agriculture sector, while there was a total estimated loss amounting to Rs 5.35 crore in fishery sector. As such, the restructuring cost is estimated at Rs 2.17 crore in water supply, Rs 9.6 crore in Public Work Department, Rs 30.54 crore in Water Resource Department.

The hydropower department has estimated a cost of Rs 1.42 crore for renovation of Yembung Mini Hydel at Kebang, which was buried in a major landslide during early June last.

However, officials said that the departments concerned were yet to submit detailed report of assessment on loss and damages caused by floods.