From Our Correspondent
NONGSTOIN: Almost ten days after a cyclonic storm ravaged scores of villages in South West Khasi Hills District, the Government on Saturday deputed Deputy Chief Minister Prof RC Laloo and Chairman of the State Planning Board SC Marak to visit the villages and take stock of the damages and subsequent relief measures.
Together with a team from the Disaster Management comprising of Lum Kharkongor and Maria Kharkongor, Prof Laloo and Marak met the families that were affected by the storm and also visited the various relief camps set up for the homeless.
They also visited the schools that were damaged in the storm. Prof Laloo, who holds the Education portfolio, said that help would be sent at the earliest to the schools so that regular schooling can be resumed. In order to assess the losses incurred, a team from the Education department would be sent from Shillong, he said.
Prof Laloo handed over a sanction letter of Rs 70 lakh to Additional Deputy Commissioner JP Lakiang. He also assured that he would submit the report of his visit to the Chief Minister and appeal for greater relief funds at the earliest.
Post the visit, a short meeting was held at Sonapahar Parish at Banglapluh which was also attended by local legislator Witting Mawsor and the headmen of Mawshynrut area.
Meanwhile, the KSU central body and the KSU West Khasi Hills unit on Saturday visited the storm affected villages and distributed rice among the victims.
The KSU members also urged the Government to enhance the relief funds for the victims as hundreds of them rendered homeless.