CM tours flood-affected districts

District administrations instructed to provide relief, watch embankments and prevent disease outbreaks on war footing

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, July 28: Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal today visited the flood affected Majuli, gaon, Morigaon, Jorhat, Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts and took stock of the prevailing flood situation there. Minister for Water Resources Keshab Mahanta and Panchayat and Rural Development minister ba Kumar Doley also accompanied the Chief Minister.

Sonowal visited the flood affected areas of Majuli island and reviewed the relief and rescue operations. He also inspected the breach on the embankment at Bongaon in Majuli and asked the Water Resources department to repair the breach on war footing. The CM also took stock of rescue operations being carried out by the NDRF, SDRF, CRPF and Indian Army.

The Chief Minister later chaired a meeting at the circuit house in Majuli and reviewed the prevailing situation with Deputy Commissioner, Jorhat, SDO (Civil) Majuli and the departmental heads of Water Resources, Health and Family Welfare, PWD, Agriculture, Veteriry and Animal Husbandry. He then directed the top functiories to keep a close vigil on the embankments. He also called upon everybody to work on war footing to extend all sorts of help to flood affected people.

The flood situation in the State continued to be grave as new areas have been inundated. Over 17 lakh people have been affected in 22 districts in the current wave. The Kaziranga tiol Park is one of the worst hit places.

As per reports, the administration has rescued all affected families as surging water breached Bongaon embankment at Majuli. Meanwhile, flood-hit people in Majuli have complained about lack of relief materials. 

All the rescued people have been provided shelter on the embankment. Since the first wave of floods, 16 persons have so far lost their lives, including 10 in the current wave.

The Chief Minister also directed the Water Resources department and Brahmaputra Board to undertake a joint inspection in the vulnerable areas where breaches can happen and take preventive steps. Moreover, on the direction of the Chief Minister, teams have been formed for surveillance of embankments on 24X7 basis.

Sonowal also directed the district administration to take care of the health and hygiene of camp inmates. He also issued directions to keep special care of babies and elderly inmates and provide baby foods and medicines in adequate quantity. He asked the administrative machinery to keep an eye also on the flood aftermath to prevent any outbreak of communicable diseases. Directions were also issued to provide adequate fodder stock. The CM also met some xatradhikars and took stock of problems faced by xatras in the wake of current floods.

The Chief Minister then proceeded to Lakhimpur and held a review meeting with the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and the departmental heads posted in the two districts. Sonowal asked the DCs to prioritise relief and rescue operations and help the flood affected people on war footing.

There will be no dearth of Gratuitous Relief (GR) materials in the State and all the district administrations and Food Corporation of India (FCI) have been instructed to procure good quality food items for the flood affected people, the State government has said.

Sonowal also interacted with flood affected people taking shelter in relief camps and assured all help to them. Minister for Water Resources Keshab Mahanta, Panchayat and Rural Development minister ba Kumar Doley, MLAs Utpal Dutta, Debanda Hazarika and Pradan Baruah were also present during the Chief Minister’s visit to the district. 

On July 30, Union Home Minister Rajth Singh is likely to visit Assam to take stock of the flood situation.