NEW DELHI, July 16 ? Responding to Assam Government?s SOS, the Centre today claimed to have come to its full rescue unveiling a series of measures undertaken to bail out the State Government. A team of four experts of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Department of Space armed with four INMARSAT satellites and eight Wireless in Local Loop (WLL) phones have been rushed to Guwahati to assist the State Government in establishing emergency communication links. The Union Government?s statement came after much criticism over its inaction on tackling the crisis in Assam and Bihar in the Parliament by the Opposition.
Laying a statement in the Parliament, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil enlightened the Members about the steps taken by the various Central Ministries according to the requests made by the State Government. ?With the assistance of all the ministries of Government of India we have been able to provide the necessary assistance to the State Government,? Patil said, assuring that Centre was committed to provide the necessary assistance. In a 10-page statement laid in both the Houses of the Parliament, Sri Patil said that Department of Food as well as the Ministry of Railways have confirmed that at least one month?s supply of food grains available with Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura and Nagaland.
The total stock of 1.44 lakh MT of food grains was available with FCI in Assam. The total stock of food grains in the North-East was reported to be more than 2 lakh MTs, he added. The rake movement of civil supplies have now started. The Government of Assam has indicated the priority for movement of essential commodities by rail. The Ministry of Railways has started movement of rakes as per the priority given to the Government of Assam, he said. The Union Home Minister added about 120 rakes of goods are still lying backed up for entry into Assam and other north-eastern States because of slow movement of traffic on the broad gauge link North of Brahmaputra and stressed the need to give priority to mail and express trains.
About restoration of communication link between Assam and rest of the North-East, the Union Home Minister said that the road bridging between Guwahati and Meghalaya and Jaintia Hills and beyond was going on. Around 120 trucks carrying food grains are on road and the road to Sonapur and Jaintia Hills is likely to be cleared by today evening as reported by the DG, Border Roads, he said, adding that around 600 trucks are held up on the road. The DG BR has been asked to make the road completely operational for heavy vehicles, Sri Patil said. The Government of Assam has requested for setting up of six Bailey bridges for restoration of road communication.
The National Highways Authority of India would take up the restoration of culverts and bridges on NH 31 near Rangiya, which was washed away in floods, and in case any assistance is required, Engineer-in-Chief, Army Headquarters will provide necessary assistance, he said. As for five other locations where Bailey bridges have to be set up immediately, the Union Home Minister said Engineer-in-Chief, Army HQs has the requisite capacity and would take up the work immediately after receiving necessary requisition from the State Government. Assam Government has been advised accordingly, he added.
On the health front, the Union Home Minister said that the Ministry of Health has sent a Central team to the flood-affected areas of Assam to advise the State on the action to be taken to prevent outbreak of epidemics. This team is currently visiting flood-affected areas. In response to Assam Government?s request for 50 lakh halogen tablets, 50 lakh packets of ORS, 500 MT of bleaching powder, 25 lakh halogen tablets have been airlifted on July 15. Another consignment of 25 lakh halogen tablets will reach Guwahati tomorrow, the Minister said. As against requirement projected by Assam Government, 10 lakh ORS packets would be provided in next four days, with the first consignment of 1.5 lakh packets slated to reach Guwahati by Saturday evening.
The Union Ministry of Health will assess then the requirement of bleaching power and supply the required quantity to the State Government. The State currently has 1049 MT of DDT available with it. The Ministry of Health has further advised that carrying out residual spray during the flood situation was not considered to be operationally and technically desirable. The Ministry of Drinking Water Supply was requested to dispatch a team to Assam to assess the drinking water situation. The Department has received a feedback from the State Government that the drinking water situation is completely normal, Sri Patil said.
As for the funds, the Minister said that an amount of Rs 116.68 crore has been made available to the State for carrying out relief operations. The first instalment of Central share of CRF amounting Rs 46.26 crore was released on July 12. Taking into account the State share of Rs 15.42 crore the total funds available on the account comes to Rs 61.68 crore. In addition, Rs 55 crore has been released from NCCF on an ad hoc basis on July 13, the Minister further added.