Nagaland: Central team conducts spot verification of natural disaster sites

Dimapur, Dec. 13 (EMN): The Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT), who are on a two-day visit in the state to assess damages caused by natural calamities, visited Wokha, Peren and Dimapur on Tuesday.

The IMCT is led by Ravinesh Kumar, Financial Advisor, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Anil Kumar Singh, Under Secretary Rural Housing Division, Department of Rural Development, and Ankit Umrao, Assistant Executive Engineer, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH).

Kumar, while briefing the Wokha District Management members, said the team will do a spot assessment and report the findings to the government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs for Central assistance to the state from National Disaster Response Fund.

He also said that the team will visit damaged sites to have an idea and how best to assist the state, an update from DIPR stated.

Deputy Commissioner and Chairman Wokha District Management Authority Wokha, Ajit Kumar Ranjan, highlighted the damages to infrastructures, roads connectivity within Wokha district, floods, landslides, human-elephant conflict, and fire incidents, etc., that have occurred in the district.

The team also visited District Veterinary Hospital, at Saron colony Wokha for spot verification and assessment, where the hospital building is on the verge of collapse due to landslides and erosion, it said.

The IMCT had a briefing with the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and other line departmental officials at ADC Office, Jalukie, Peren district.

The meeting was chaired by EAC Jalukie, Imtinungla Longkumer. During the interaction, DDMA Peren, Chairman and DC Peren, Vineet Kumar, and other line departments, which included PHED, PWD (R&B), Veterinary, Fisheries, Housing, and Water Resources, gave brief presentations on disasters that have affected the public and properties during the last monsoon in the district.

The team also informed that immediate relief would be provided on a nominal basis.

After the interaction, the visiting team along with DDMA officials and line departments visited Mongleu Irrigation Dam for spot assessment.

The IMC team was led by Sanjay Singh, Superintending Engineer (C) Brahmaputra Basin Organization, Central Water Commission, Tanveer Ahmad Khan, Assistant Director (PFC-1), Dept. of Expenditure, MoF, North Block, New Delhi. The team was also accompanied by Keren Rose, Nodal Officer, Peren District, and Rendemo, State Emergency Operation Centre.

Meanwhile, the IMCT also arrived in Dimapur on Tuesday and inspected the disaster sites in Chumoukedima areas.

The team inspected the sites starting from Pimla-Zhutovi, Pagalapahar, Sodzulhou, Seithekima basa and Tsithrongse. During the inspection, the concerned departments briefed the issues and damages caused by the monsoon. The team asked the line departments to submit their proposal and assured them that their grievances will be looked into soon.

Further, the team had also visited Tening on December 12, and were briefed on the grievances and major problems faced by Nsong area during monsoon seasons. It stated that due to incessant rains and natural calamities, road connectivity was cut off by landslide hampering the lifeline of the Nsong area villages.

Others who attended the meeting with the IMCT team included Nsong Village Council members headed by its GB and concerned line departments, it added.