Compensation for flood damage in Assam: Meandering assessment delays payment

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: According to an unofficial assessment, Assam needs around Rs 5,000 crore for the immediate restoration of infrastructure damaged by floods in the state.

According to sources, the state needs such an amount to restore the damaged roads, embankments, bridges, school buildings and whatnot. A large number of roads and other infrastructures are still under water. The amount may go up after the assessment of all such losses.

According to sources, the assessment of personal property damage is yet to start. However, according to the available data, the deluge fully damaged around 16,000 houses, partially damaged over one lakh houses, destroyed around two lakh hectares of crop area, washed away or killed around 8,000 livestock, etc. The Disaster Management Act has a fixed compensation amount for each such damage. Even if flood water washes away utensils, the government pays for that. However, it depends on the field inspection report, which takes a lot of time.

For instance, the meandering course of the inspection report from the lat mandols to the deputy commissioners makes farmers not get compensation for crop damage even after a year. In case of house damage, the affected people face hurdles in getting the compensation amount.

This time, the State Government will launch a portal to let affected people upload photos of their damaged houses with complete addresses etc. It will let affected people get compensation even if the official inspection team does not cover their damage.

According to official sources, paying compensation gets delayed since no official can deviate from the existing meandering procedures. If the government eases the procedure through amendment, the officials can pay the damages without taking much time. It will also help the affected people, sources said.

Also Read:   Central team to assess flood damage in Assam

Also Watch: