CM assesses damage due to thunderstorms

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, APR 6: Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma today held a high-level meeting through a video conferencing from Tura to take stock of the damages caused by recent thunderstorms which claimed two lives and left behind a trail of destruction across the State.

Sangma also asked the ministers in the government to pay a visit to the affected areas, particularly the worst affected areas in Mawsynram and Ranikor blocks in South West Khasi Hills.

The high-level meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary K.S. Kropha in Shillong, was also attended by DGP S.B. Singh, Principal Secretary Finance, R.V. Suchiang and other high-level officials from the line departments. In Tura, the Chief Minister was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi and other district officials during the video-conferencing before his departure for New Delhi today afternoon.

During the meeting the Chief Secretary briefed the Chief Minister on the district wise report of damages to houses, school buildings, agricultural crops, disruption of power supply, etc in the affected areas and the disbursement of relief to the affected families to be made as per the guidelines.

The Chief Minister told the high-level officials to ensure that the reports of damages submitted by the concerned authorities reach the SDMA, so that even before other aspects of relief are considered the State can proceed ahead at least with the component of giving support to the victims for restoration of their dwelling houses based on their entitlements.

As far as the two casualties during the natural disaster is concerned, the Chief Minister asked the Chief Secretary to hand over the ex-gratia payment to the families of the victims and to get the names of the victims correctly.

He also asked the Commissioner of Divisions to have a review at their level so that those areas which may have skipped the attention in compilation of reports can be incorporated particularly because of the difficult terrains in most parts of the State it is difficult to get information by the concerned “foot soldiers”. In this regard, he suggested that assistance from village disaster management committees can be taken for comprehensive report of damages.

The Deputy Commissioners were also asked to hold a round of meetings with the BDOs for proper compilation of reports and to have necessary review meetings at their level to review the state of preparedness for any natural disasters that are likely to occur in the future.