Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday announced a recovery plan for flood-affected areas of Upper Assam, with the government preparing measures for insurance assistance, financial support, school restoration and infrastructure repairs.
The next phase of flood management will focus on helping people recover their losses, Sarma said after the Cabinet meeting. He announced that the state government would meet insurance companies on August 5 to ensure proper processing of claims related to damaged vehicles, livestock and other insured assets.
Sarma said many people had suffered losses due to vehicle damage and that the government would seek cooperation from insurance firms to ensure genuine policyholders do not face difficulties while receiving settlements.
The Chief Minister also said discussions would be held with Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) on August 5 to provide relief to people who have taken loans from such institutions. The move comes after the government announced a six-month moratorium on loan repayments for flood-affected borrowers on July 30.
The assessment process for the Rs 15,000 assistance announced for affected families is expected to be completed within the next one to two days, Sarma said. Teachers have been assigned the task of verifying beneficiaries, and the government plans to begin releasing the aid by August 2 or 3.
Funds amounting to Rs 8 crore from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund will be transferred to Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan on August 1 for supplying and replacing school uniforms. The funds will be routed to School Management Committees through the scheme.
Sarma said textbook distribution has already begun, while surveys are being conducted to identify students eligible for financial assistance of Rs 1,000, Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 based on the extent of their losses.
A separate assessment of permanent damage to houses and other properties will begin from August 7. The Chief Minister said district administrations and the Revenue Department would complete the exercise within 10 to 15 days through a mission-mode approach.
He added that he would visit Sivasagar and Charaideo before compensation distribution begins. Assistance for damaged houses, livestock and other eligible losses will be provided under government guidelines within August.
Floods have affected nearly 550 schools in Sivasagar and several others in Charaideo, according to Sarma. The government will provide Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh to schools for repairing damage and clearing mud from their premises.
The Chief Minister said the assessment of school damage was underway and funds were likely to be released by August 5 or 6. The government aims to reopen schools in Sivasagar and Charaideo on August 9, but August 15 will be considered if restoration work requires additional time.
Providing details of relief distribution, Sarma said flood-affected families had so far received around 23,730 quintals of rice, 4,541 quintals of pulses and 1,18,110 litres of mustard oil.
After rehabilitation work is completed, the government will begin restoring damaged infrastructure and embankments from September. Sarma said separate packages would be prepared for Sivasagar and Charaideo to repair roads, embankments and other public infrastructure affected by the floods.
On Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s possible visit to the flood-affected areas, Sarma said the Centre had been extending support through the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
He said the timing of such a visit would need to be considered carefully, as district administrations would have to divert resources towards preparations several days in advance. Sarma added that relief operations were being carried out systematically and that the Prime Minister would decide the appropriate time for his visit.