Shillong, Sept 30: The West Garo hills district administration has set up fourteen relief camps in different parts of the district to alleviate the problems of flood victims. The step has been taken following the recent flood that hit the plain belt areas of Garo hills.
West Garo hills deputy commissioner Pravin Bakshi said, “The second wave of devastating floods in Phulbari , Rajabala , Bhaitbari , Paham and surrounding areas has added more miseries to the lives of the affected people in the flood hit areas and the administration decided to set up the relief camps.”.
Bakshi informed that the people are being advised to take shelter and refuge in the relief camps but some of the affected households have moved up to the dry high land or the PWD roads fearing thefts in their houses if they vacate their houses. He said, “Some people have also moved out with their belongings and are living in makeshift tents on the dry areas at a higher altitude from where they can monitor their submerged houses.”
Barely two and a half months ago were they reeling under the pressure of floods as 114 villages were fully or partially affected with a displaced and affected population rising to more than one lakh.
In the latest floods about 100 villages are partially or fully affected. Several hundred acres of standing sali paddy are completely destroyed with no hope of economic recovery for the affected people.
About 91,000 people have been displaced. Bakshi said, “This is the first time that the entire plain belt area starting from Hallidayganj upto Nidanpur area is completely submerged all along the Jingiram river.”
Bakshi informed the district administration will provide gratuitous relief (GR) for five days as was decided by the ministerial delegation appointed by the chief minister to survey the flood affected areas. He said, “The GR shall include 600 gm of rice , 100 gm of dal , 30 gms of salt and 50 ml of mustard oil for adults and 400 gm of rice with other items with the same amount for minors.”
Other relief material like tarpaulins , buckets , mugs and plastic sheets shall be provided to the worst affected villages which have not receives the assistance during the last floods. Safe pit latrines shall be constructed wherever necessary, he added.
The district administration will also provide bleaching powder and essential medicines wherever required. The medical teams have been alerted.
Ten numbers of boats have been requisitioned formally and several others are on standby to help in the evacuation of the families stuck in their homes or not willing to vacate the ground near their homes, Bakshi said. – By Our Reporter
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