ASDMA Urges Central Team to Release Rs 500 Cr for NDRF, Declare State’s 2 Waves of Floods as ‘Calamities of Severe Nature’

G D Tripathi, the CEO of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) has requested the eight-member High-Level Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) which assessed the damages caused by two waves of floods in the state this year to declare these two waves as ‘Calamities of Severe Nature,’ and to release Rs 500 crore for the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) on an interim basis.

The request comes in response to the devastating floods that have struck the state twice this year causing extensive damage to properties, and loss of human lives, livestock, and wildlife.

The eight-member central team from different Ministries of the Government of India was divided into 2 groups and visited the flood-affected districts of Dibrugarh, Majuli, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Nagaon, Cachar, Karimganj, Hailakandi from July 18 to 20 to assess the damage from this year’s two waves of deluge.

After concluding its assessment yesterday, the team led by Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Mihir Kumar deliberated with the senior officials of the Assam Government at Lok Sewa Bhawan, Dispur today.

Speaking on the impacts of flood, Tiwari said, “Cyclone Remal triggered the first wave of floods and the state has already encountered two waves which have affected humans, livestock, and wildlife alike.”

Mihir Kumar said that the team had a bird’s eye view of the damages caused by the recent floods and highlighted the severe inundation of agricultural lands that these two waves of floods had caused.

He has also appreciated the level of preparedness displayed by the districts and the state government and the prompt and effective relief operation undertaken in the flood-affected areas.

Currently, over 1,30,888 people in 23 revenue circles and 423 villages across 10 districts remain affected. A total of 9,258 displaced people are sheltered in 46 relief camps. Crop land of 8,623.9 hectares remains inundated, and 19,327 animals are affected.