Centre is lackadaisical towards Assam flood: Tarun Gogoi

PTI
GUWAHATI, DECEMBER 5

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said the Centre has shown its lackadaisical attitude towards Assam when it comes to releasing flood relief fund.
In a statement Gogoi said that the Centre’s lackadaisical attitude in the matter of flood relief fund to Assam has come to the fore as it is yet to send an assessment team to make a survey of the damages caused by floods this year that claimed several lives.
Gogoi said that the Centre is yet to depute an assessment team despite assurance by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and that the State has been left in the lurch. “At the time of floods the Union Home Minister gave assurance that there would be no dearth of relief fund to flood-hit Assam. Several months have elapsed, the Centre is yet to depute an assessment team to the State,” said Gogoi adding that the laidback approach of the Modi-led Government has added to the woes of the people.
The Chief Minister said while the Centre is quick to announce special packages for Jammu & Kashmir and Tamil Nadu, it is yet to send a fact-finding team to Assam to take stock of the damages wrecked by floods this year.
“The Centre is quick to respond when calamities like floods hit other States but when it comes to Assam and other North Eastern States, it is always found wanting,” Gogoi said, adding,” Gogoi said.
He added that the Centre has also not provided any separate flood relief fund to the State. Gogoi said that the State Government has submitted a memorandum to the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking total funds for Rs 1526.19 crore which include Rs 860.17 crore for breaches in embankments, Rs 200 crore for restoration of roads and bridges, Rs 208.63 crore for crop damage, Rs 67.10 crore for repair of anganwadi centres, Rs 37.95 crore for repair of school buildings, Rs 59.04 crore for repair of fully and partially damaged houses, Rs 58.69 crore for rescue and relief operations, among others.
According to state government 64 people died and 36.67 lakh people were affected in the five waves of floods this year.