MLAs take leave to monitor floods

In a first, House temporarily adjourned due to grave flood situation

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, July 27: For the first time, the State Assembly was temporarily adjourned for July 28 and 29 as all the MLAs were asked to visit their respective constituencies to monitor the relief and rescue operations that are being undertaken in 19 flood-hit districts of Assam. The decision of adjournment was taken by the Speaker after consultation with the Business Advisory Committee on Wednesday.  

It may be mentioned that the House is scheduled to be adjourned from July 30 to August 7 due to the meeting of the Departmental Related Standing Committee. The session will again start from August 8 and adjourn sine die on August 13 instead of August 12 as fixed earlier.

On Wednesday, after Question Hour, all MLAs requested the Speaker to adjourn the House so that they can visit their flood affected constituencies to monitor the situation.

Meanwhile, there is no let up in the flood situation with the mighty Brahmaputra and its rain-fed tributaries wreaking havoc in 21 districts — from Sadiya to Dhubri — of the State, affecting more than 15 lakh people. So far 12 persons have lost their lives in this current wave of floods.

Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal informed the House that he has asked deputy commissioners to step up relief and rescue operations as enough funds have been released to them to provide respite to the affected people.

The CM has also directed the DCs to release within a week ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the next of kin of those 12 who died in the deluge. Further, Sonowal asked the DCs to ensure the affected people housed in relief camps do not face any difficulty in matters of ration, medicine, sanitation and pure drinking water.

The Chief Minister told the Assembly he is closely monitoring the flood situation in affected districts and has instructed Health, Agriculture, Revenue and Disaster Magement, Power, Public Health Engineering and Animal Husbandry and Veteriry departments to take up immediate measures to tackle the situation.

Sonowal asked the MLAs to liaise with the deputy commissioners to remove difficulties, if any, and to streamline the process of distribution of relief materials. “The MLAs must remain with the affected people in their hour of distress and provide succor to them,” he exhorted.

The Chief Minister further asked the MLAs to submit report to him on the flood situation. Sonowal said he would incorporate the salient points of their reports during the preparation of a detailed memorandum to be submitted to the Central government.

He also said BJP MPs from Assam met the Prime Minister to apprise him about the situation.

The Central government is keeping a close watch on the flood situation in the State and is in constant touch with the CM. “Union Home Minister Rajth Singh has assured all possible help to our government to deal with the situation and in bearing the costs of relief, rescue and rehabilitation. Prime Minister rendra Modi too is keeping a close watch on the crisis. A Central team will soon visit the State to take stock of the situation and assess the damage caused by floods,”  added Sonowal. 

In view of worsening flood situation in Majuli subdivision, Chief Minister Sonowal will visit the river island, also his constituency, to make an on-the-spot assessment of the situation there.