Inter-Ministerial Central team assesses flood damage in Assam

GUWAHATI: A high-level seven-member 'Inter-Ministerial Central Team' (IMCT) from various Union Ministries visited the flood-affected districts of Assam for an on-the-spot assessment of flood/landslide damage this year.

From November 23 to 25, 2020, the Central team headed by NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) Additional Secretary, New Delhi SandeepPoundrik, took details of the damage from senior officials at the Chief Secretary's Conference Hall here on Thursday.

The Central team discussed the damage, loss of livelihood and property in Kamrup, Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Nagaon and Hojai districts.

Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam, Jishnu Baruah urged the Central team to consider release of funds under the 'National Disaster Response Force' (NDRF) for repair and restoration works against the damage done during current year flood. Baruah also urged the Central team to consider erosion as an item admissible under SDRF/NDRF in their report to the Government of India as the State suffers heavily due to river erosion every year.

Poundrik assured the State government that they would submit the report to the Centre with recommendations very soon.

This year, the State government has sought Rs. 2642.99 crore from the SDRF/NDRF for repair and restoration works of damage done by floods and erosion.

The other six members of the team were Ayush Puniya, Assistant Commissioner, Union Ministry of Rural Development; Narendra Kumar, Director, Directorate of Jute Development, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare; Sudhir Kumar, Director, Monitoring and Appraisal Directorate, Ministry of Jal Shakti; S.K. Pradhan, Joint Director, Expenditure, Ministry of Finance; O.P. Suman, Deputy Director, Central Electricity Authority, Ministry of Power; and Abhishek Agarwal, Assistant Executive Engineer (Civil), Ministry of Road & Transport.

The meeting was also attended by top officials of the Revenue and Disaster Management department and the ASDMA (Assam State Disaster Management Authority), said a press release.

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