Excelsior Correspondent
GUWAHATI (ASSAM), July 30: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh,accompanied by Union DoNER Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, today undertook a day-long tour of the flood affected areas of Assam, following which he assured the State government of full possible assistance by the Centre to overcome the situation.
Chief Minister of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal also joined the the union Ministers from Guwahati for the onward tour of the State.
Rajnath Singh took an aerial survey of the flood affected areas of Kaziranga and other most severely affected areas of the State and also visited the relief camp in Morigaon district where he personally interacted with the inmates of the camp. He went around enquiring about the welfare of the inmates at the facility made available to them.
State Administration officers, led by Divisional Commissioner of Morigaon, showed the visiting Ministers the outlets established for distribution of food items and medicines. Rajnath Singh came across one of the inmates who was suffering from a chronic ailment and immediately arranged for her to be shifted to hospital.
Later, on return to Guwahati, Rajnath Singh along with Dr Jitendra Singh and Sarbananda Sonowal, took a review meeting at which the State Administration officers led by Chief Secretary, the Security Heads and the senior officers of the NDRF were present. The officers gave a resume of the various relief and rescue measures undertaken by them. The Ministers were informed that so far 26 deaths have taken place because of the floods resulting from heavy rains. At the same time, about 124 cattle and animals had been rescued from the flood inundated areas.
Rajnath Singh expressed satisfaction over the rescue measures and said that Rs.6000 cr was already available as a part of Disaster Relief Fund at the disposal of State Government. He said, more could be arranged after the Government submitted over all estimate of the expenditure to be incurred in relief and rehabilitation.
Dr Jitendra Singh, while speaking at the meeting, said that floods in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh had become an annual feature as a result of which, every year, a huge amount of money was being spent by the Government in relief and rehabilitation. The irony, on the other hand, he said, is that while 28 out of 29 districts of Assam are flooded with water, the drinking water supplied is still not up to the expected standards of hygiene and utility.
Dr Jitendra Singh suggested that the State Government, in collaboration with the Central Government, should formulate a long-term plan focusing on the prevention of the floods and instead, work out means of using this water for constructive purposes like irrigation in those areas of the State which suffer from drought as well as, if possible, for setting up hydro-electric projects.
Sarbananda Sonowal thanked Rajnath Singh and Dr Jitendra Singh for their prompt response and concern. He requested the Home Minister for providing more liberal funding to overcome the disaster situation.
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