GUWAHATI: AssamChief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday visited the flood affected areas of Nalbari and Barpeta districts and took stock of the conditions of the people taking shelter in the relief camps.
The chief minister visited the Bal Bhawan Vidyapith flood relief camp at Sariahtoli village in Nalbari where people affected by the flooding of Pagaladiya River had taken shelter and took stock of their problems and grievances. Assessing the relief services provided by the district administration, the chief minister interacted with the 254 inmates of 75 families in the camp including pregnant women and children. He also took stock of baby foods, animal fodder and medical services provided to the flood affected people.
Assuring full support of the state government in this hour of need to those ravaged by floods, Sonowal said that all help would be extended from the government and he also directed Nalbari Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police to ensure expeditious relief measures so that flood affected can derive benefit. Protection of the properties of flood affected people was also directed by the chief minister to Superintendent of Police.
Thereafter, the chief minister visited the relief camp set up at the premises of Solmara Bazaar Samiti and interacted with the inmates while issuing directives to the Doctors and other health workers to extend optimum service to the flood ravaged people.
Later, Sonowal visited Sarthebari in Barpeta and reviewed the flood management activities of the district administration in a meeting held at Sarthebari Circle Office with the deputy commissioner, superintendent of police and other heads of departments of the district. Directing the officials to ensure food, shelter, animal fodder and medical services to the flood ravaged, the chief minister asked the officials to provide financial assistance to the farmers whose agricultural lands had been affected by flood.
He also instructed the Water Resource Department to take necessary steps to protect the embankments and directed the Deputy Commissioner for keeping adequate boats for rescue operations along with maintaining communication with SDRF and NDRF.
The matter of flood affecting the bell metal furnaces of the district also came up for discussion and Sonowal directed for taking necessary steps in this regard with consultation with the owners of the furnaces and provide financial assistance to bell metal artisans. He also directed the Health Department to collect blood samples of relief camp inmates and other flood affected people suffering from fever like conditions to contain diseases such as Japanese Encephalitis.
During the meeting, DC Barpeta apprised the chief minister that a total 7.3 lakh people of 502 villages in 8 revenue circles of the district have been affected by this wave of flood along with 3.43 lakh hector agricultural lands. District administration has taken steps to provide relief materials through 53 relief distribution centres, the chief minister was informed.