GUWAHATI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called up the chief minister of flood-ravaged Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal to take stock of the prevailing flood situation in the state. The Prime Minister enquired about measures taken by government of Assam to provide succour to the marooned people, damages caused by flood and status of relief and rescue operations.
The Prime Minister while talking to Sonowal said that central government was taking flood and erosion problem in Assam very seriously and assured him that union government would extend all support to state government for mitigating the situation, according to a source in the CM’s office here.
The CM conveyed to the Prime Minister about state government’s decision to procure dredger for excavation of Brahmaputra river bed apart from preparing plan for anti-erosion adopting latest technology. He also explained about steps taken by the state PWD department to repair the roads damaged by flood and steps taken by state water resources department to tackle erosion including ensuring availability of anti-erosion materials for prompt action at affected sites.
Sonowal informed the PM about expeditious measures taken by the state government to reach out to the flood-hit and that ministers had been directed to rush to affected areas to take stock of flood situation and step up relief and rescue operations so as to ensure proper arrangement of facilities for flood-hit and relief camp inmates. He also apprised that MPs and MLAs of concerned areas had also been asked to remain in their constituencies and supervise rescue and relief operations.
Informing that relief materials have been distributed through flood relief centres also, Sonowal informed the PM about availability of safe drinking water, baby food, medical facilities at relief camps and flood-hit areas.
Modi was apprised that ex-gratia relief to the next of the kin of those killed in the current wave of flood had been disbursed within 48 hours and that Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department along with State Disaster Response Force had been carrying out joint operations to rescue the marooned animals and fodder for cattle has been made adequately available at flood hit areas.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Department in Assam is taking measures supply superior quality seeds to farmers whose crops have been devastated in the flood.