CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Reviews COVID and Flood Preparedness in Tinsukia District

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TINSUKIA: Expressing concern over the unchanged COVID status since June 5 in Tinsukia, Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said in Tinsukia on Saturday that an intensive vaccination programme would be launched from Monday in order to achieve herd immunity. He informed that out of 8 lakh 18+ population, only 2 lakh had been vaccinated so far and expected to cover another 3 lakh population within July 10 in two phases. This intensive programme will cover all tea gardens and rural areas.

The Chief Minister asked the PWD to complete the ongoing extension works of Tinsukia Civil Hospital at the earliest so that number of ICU beds could be increased in the hospital. He also asked the health department to install 5 ICU beds at Digboi Civil Hospital apart from 5 dialysis machines for treatment of patients with acute nephrological problems in consultation with National Health Mission.

On the flood issue, the Chief Minister informed media persons that the Tinsukia district administration had taken all preventive measures to mitigate people's sufferings from the possible flood. During the visit, Dr Sarma held discussion with district officials at the DC's conference hall in Tinsukia on Saturday in presence of Union Minister Rameswar Teli, State Minister Sanjoy Kishan and MLA of Digboi Suren Phukan.

Earlier on his arrival at Tinsukia district, Dr Sarma visited Margherita and held meeting with senior officials of Coal India Ltd pertaining to reopening of mining activities in the North Eastern Coalfields (NEC). Later talking to the newsmen, he said that issues like pollution, forest and environmental clearances were involved regarding resumption of mining activities and a tripartite meeting between the Ministry of Coal, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India and Government of Assam would be held next month in New Delhi to take final decision in the matter. He said that all stakeholders must come together to find a solution to the problem and said that Coal India Ltd. should also come forward in this regard by taking steps such as contributing in Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) which is meant for promoting afforestation and regeneration activities.

He asserted that a concentrated and scientific approach would be needed to resolve the issue and steps had to be taken in a phased manner to achieve the balance between mining and forest protection. The Chief Minister also received memoranda from various organizations and stakeholders and said that a way would be found to resume economic activities without harming the environment. Steps have to be taken for sustaining economy, livelihood and environment, he said. Union Minister Rameswar Teli, Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, Tea Tribes Welfare Minister Sanjay Kishan, MLA Margherita Bhaskar Sharma and senior officers of departments concerned were also present in the meeting.

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