Amidst the worsening situation due to floods in Assam, BJP MLA Mrinal Saikia has expressed concern over the damage caused to the rural economy. He has demanded direct compensation from the government for the losses incurred in the animal husbandry and poultry sector so that the affected families can stand up again.
Guwahati (Assam) [भारत]July 27 (ANI): As recurring floods in Assam are displacing communities and submerging large tracts of land, ruling BJP MLA from Khumtai Mrinal Saikia has drawn attention to the devastating blow it has dealt to the state’s agricultural foundation.
Speaking to ANI on the current flood situation in Guwahati, the MLA highlighted that while immediate relief efforts are underway, the destruction extends far beyond the physically submerged property. The loss of human lives and widespread destruction of livestock and poultry has severely crippled the rural economy. Urging the Center and state authorities to extend assistance beyond basic emergency relief, Saikia stressed that direct monetary compensation to rural livelihoods is important to help rehabilitate affected families.
MLA demanded compensation
“The floods have completely destroyed the economy of many districts of Assam, especially the rural economy, such as cattle rearing and poultry farming. The government should compensate for all the losses in the poultry and livestock sectors… Lives have also been lost… The government is trying, but it should definitely compensate for these losses,” Saikia said.
The severe floods have devastated fundamental rural income sources, especially cattle rearing and poultry, which sustain thousands of rural families in many districts. Beyond the standard relief, the government should formulate a clear compensation structure covering losses incurred especially in the livestock and poultry sectors.
The legislator noted the loss of life caused by the flood waters and acknowledged ongoing government relief efforts, adding that direct assistance needed to be more widespread.
Government response and relief efforts
The death toll in Assam floods has risen to 68, according to the latest bulletin issued by the Disaster Reporting and Information Management System (DRIMS) here on Monday. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that state government ministers will reach across the state to coordinate rehabilitation works. The priority of the state government is to provide relief to citizens in the worst affected districts like Sivasagar, Jorhat and Golaghat.
power restoration efforts
Earlier, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma had said that a coordinated exercise was being carried out to restore power in areas where it was suspended.
The CM said, “As Assam slowly recovers from the floods, efforts are underway to restore power in the affected districts. Following the precautionary suspension of power supply during the floods, Assam Power Distribution Company Limited teams are conducting extensive safety inspections while restoring power in Sivasagar, Jorhat, Charaideo, Dhubri, Bongaigaon and other affected areas in a phased manner. We are committed to restoring essential services as soon as possible and ensuring that every “Affected communities should return to normal.”
Central government assured help
On Sunday, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal described the flood situation in Assam as “very serious” and said the Center and state governments are working together to carry out relief and rescue operations for the affected people.
Speaking to reporters, Sonowal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been closely monitoring the situation since the floods began and is in constant touch with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Sonowal said, “The flood situation in Assam is very serious, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been engaged from the very beginning in gathering information about this situation. He has also spoken to the Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, and has also gathered information about this situation. Right from the beginning, the Central government is fully engaged in assisting the state government and helping all our flood affected people in this situation. Both the governments are jointly distributing relief material and carrying out rescue operations.”
He said the Prime Minister also spoke to him on Sunday morning, sought an update on the ground situation and assured the people of Assam of all possible assistance from the Centre.
“The Prime Minister called me this morning and inquired about the situation. I personally explained the details of what I saw yesterday, and the Prime Minister said, ‘Tell the people of Assam that we stand with them and are ready to provide any assistance.’ The state government and the central government will jointly take action on this issue. We will take whatever steps are necessary. As per the Prime Minister’s instructions, a high-level inter-ministerial team has arrived and will talk to the affected people and assess their situation,” he said. (ANI)
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