Opp Congress seek PM’s intervention into flood incident

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 23, 2020

The opposition Congress has requested the Centre to sanction a special package for flood-hit districts of Meghalaya.

In a letter to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, Congress MLA from Mawlai PT Sawkmie and Mawsynram MLA Himalaya Shangpliang said, “We urge upon you to kindly consider sanctioning a special package for Meghalaya similarly as you have assured to provide to the state of Assam, so as to enable the state government to provide necessary relief and financial support to the affected individuals including rehabilitations and re-installation of the infrastructures damaged by the flood waters.”

They said that torrential rains for the past few weeks particularly in the plan belts of Garo Hills and the resultant backflow of the river Brahmaputra from Assam, has caused unprecedented floods in these areas resulting in loss of five precious lives, displacement of people and huge damage to property including roads and bridges.

The letter informed that entire areas under the C&RD Blocks of Selsella, Tikrikilla and Demdema in West Garo Hills, where more than 16 lakhs people and around 50,000 households were affected due to the flood.

The PHCs located in the flood affected areas of Mahendraganj and Bhaitbari besides Rajabala police outpost, schools and PMGSY roads have been submerged under water.

The MLAs further said that the relief camps have been set up by the district administration and the relief provided is not adequate for the flood victims. According to them, more relief is required to be distributed and continued for longer period considering the COVID-19 pandemic situation prevailing in the state.