CM makes aerial survey of flood-hit areas

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Tura, July 27: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today made an aerial survey of the flood affected areas in the plains belt areas of West Garo Hills district.

He announced a Gratuitous Relief (GR) for 10 days for the affected people after the three local MLAs of those areas – Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Clement Marak, Assembly Speaker, A.T. Mondal and Parliamentary Secretary i/c Water Resources, Ashahel D. Shira along with the Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi and other officials of the district assessed the situation from ground zero.

Several villages under Phulbari, Rajabala, Singimari, Paham, Bhaitbari and Hallidayganj areas were inundated by the raging water of Brahmaputra and Jinjiram rivers.  A total of 107464 people in 132 villages have been affected by floods.

247 flood-hit families are being sheltered in 20 desigted camps and few makeshift camps in the higher grounds. The number is expected rise as the water level is likely to rise.

The Chief Minister held a meeting with the local MLAs of the affected areas and the district administration officials on Tuesday night to assess the situation and under his guidance; a high-level committee was constituted to monitor the flood affected areas.

The GR would be given to the affected areas after fil assessment of the damage and the number of people affected. Earlier, the team also held a meeting with the affected persons at Hallidayganj.

The flood waters, besides inundating the villages and wreaking havoc on the residents, have brought them innumerable loss in terms of damage to fishery ponds and loss of livestock among others. The local MLAs and the District Administration would continue to monitor the situation closely for the next few days.