CM suggests measures to deal with floods
From our Correspondent
ITAGAR, May 17: Keeping in view the recent disaster of unexpected proportions that hit the state due to pre-monsoon rains, Aruchal Pradesh Chief Minister Kalikho Pul has suggested adopting wide-ranging measures to deal with flood.
Pul’s response came when Deputy Chief Minister Chow Mein yesterday apprised him regarding breach of o-Dehing River in msai district, which had inundated more than 100 acres of agricultural land and led to relocation of several hundred flood-affected families, an official report said here today.
Mein during the meeting was accompanied by Water Resources Development (WRD) Minister Kamlung Mossang, Tax & Excise Parliamentary Secretary Zingnu mchoom, WRD Parliamentary Secretary Gum Tayeng and other high ranking officials from the department.
The chief minister asked the department officials to adopt preventive measures targeted to long-term, medium-term and short-term actions, which could be adopted as policy decision.
The long-term actions may include preparations for flood protection investments, developing flood magement plans (FMPs) and maging river schemes, which would depend on cent per cent central funding.
For medium-term, Pul said the funding would be made through centre-state combined resources and the actions would include building and maintaining flood-protection infrastructures, the report said.
As immediate measure, the chief minister assured that the state Government would fully equip the departments to respond promptly to deal with any occurrence of tural disasters.
For department to carry out immediate restorations works, it would be equipped with heavy earth moving machineries.
Pul further assured to provide emergency motor boats to vigate floods and informed that Rs two crore has been already earmarked for the WRD department.
Aiming to achieve comprehensive solution rather on finding piecemeal solutions, the Chief Minister asked the department to prepare proposals and schemes only on need base and to properly identify and discourage such proposals that are based on individual interests. Also to avoid inconsistency in allotment of works, Pul proposed that all flood related infrastructure works should go to WRD being the nodal department, the report informed.
The chief minister also asked the department to map all rivers and rivulets in the capital city to check erosions and flooding. He informed that he would be conducting an aerial survey of the flood prone areas in East Siang, Lower Dibang Valley, msai and Changlang district soon, the report added.