SHILLONG: In view of the plight of West Garo Hills flood victims, an activist has urged the state government to extend the seven-day Gratuitous Relief (GR) to 14 days.
In a letter to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Ishraful Hoque, a social activist from West Garo Hills, said that the floodwater has risen again forcing the people to vacate their houses and take shelter in the relief camp.
Stating that the seven-day GR is not enough for the victims, Hoque informed the chief minister that if the water level keeps on rising, then it would be better to deploy the NDRF to assist the flood victims.
He asked the government to turn to Rongai Valley Medium Irrigation Project.
Retaining walls on the embankment of Brahmaputra river through the project will prevent the annual floods, Hoque observed.
He also asked the chief minister to look into the alleged discrepancies in distribution of relief materials to some of the villages. In this connection, he asked the chief minister to constitute a vigilance committee.