Admin asked not to be too strict in following norms for providing relief
Tura/Shillong, Oct 11: Chief minister Conrad Sangma, who has been visiting areas severely affected by recent floods and landslides, on Thursday asked the authorities concerned to remove all bottlenecks to speed up the relief and rehabilitation measures. He also suggested measures to allow the affected people to get quick benefits of the government initiatives taken in this regard.
Addressing a review meeting at Purakhasia in South West Garo Hills, he asked the officials concerned not to be too strict in following rules and regulations in giving provisions to the affected people.
“This is the moment when they most need the help and support from the administration and the departments concerned,” he said.
Meanwhile, addressing a public meeting, the chief minister announced ₹1.30 lakh each for fully damaged houses and for partially damaged houses assistance would be given based on the extent of damage.
In case of any family of victim of affected household not receiving relief materials due to communication gap, he advised them to directly inform the respective VEC secretary or BDO.
Allaying concern of a group of women, who apprised the chief minister of their difficulties due to damage caused to several irrigation canals, he asked the Water Resources department to build small protection walls as short term measure and assured that funds would be immediately sanctioned for such protection walls.
He also assured of immediate sanction for repair and reconstruction of several schools damaged during the flood from Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Referring to large-scale damage caused to a lot of ponds, plantations and orchards, he said Agriculture and Horticulture and other line departments would work together in providing assistance to the affected people.
In case of damaged bridges, the chief minister directed the PWD to restore the communication by doing temporary repair to enable at least light and small vehicles to ply as early as possible.
Earlier, deputy commissioner Hema Nayak presented a report on the affected areas in the district, the number of households affected and relief materials provided to the people in the affected villages.
Sangma lauded the efforts put in by the district administration and various departments for their efforts in conducting rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures.
Meanwhile, the chief minister also toured several affected areas under Purakhasia block to assess the extent of damage and difficulties faced by the people.
He inspected the flood-affected Batua Bazar area of Purakhasia as well as the damaged bridge at Balijora.
He also inspected the catchment area near the river bank at Purakhasia and the bridge connecting Wagigitok to Akimpara over Grim river.
At Aikinpara and Posenggagre villages, the chief minister held a public interaction with the affected people.
He also inspected Thallang bridge at Angalangre and a collapsed bridge at Rimrangpara over Norang river.
Relief distribution by SDRF
Meanwhile, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has continued in its assistance to the civil authorities in providing relief materials in the flood-hit areas of Dalu C&RD Block in West Garo Hills district.
A team of SDRF personnel was engaged in distribution of relief materials at at Doriapara, Anggalanggre and Ganipara villages, according to a press release.
The SDRF team has been deployed in flood-hit Dalu area since Friday last following the flash floods that hit Garo Hills region last week.
