Arunachal CM Kalikho Pul Suggests Measures to Deal with Floods
Itanagar
Arunachal CM Kalikho Pul today suggested on adopting wide-ranging measures to change the way floods are deal with, in response to the recent disaster of unexpected proportions that hit the state triggered by the pre-monsoon rains.
This followed after Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein called on the Chief Minister today to discuss regarding breach of Nao-Dehing River in Namsai district, which had inundated more than 100 acres of WRC fields and led to relocation of several hundred flood-affected families.
The Chief Minister asked the department officials to adopt preventive measures targeted to long-term, medium-term and short-term actions, which could be adopted as policy decision.
The long-term actions may include preparations for flood protection investments, developing flood management plans (FMPs) and managing river schemes, which would depend on 100% central funding.
For medium-term, the Chief Minister said the funding would be made through centre-state combined resources and the actions would include building and maintaining flood-protection infrastructures.
As immediate measure, the CM assured the state government would fully equip the departments to respond promptly to deal with any occurrence of natural disasters. For department to carry out immediate restorations works, it would be equipped with heavy earth moving machineries. Also the Chief Minister assured to provide emergency motor boats to navigate floods and informed that Rs 2 crore has been already earmarked for WRD department.
Aiming to achieve comprehensive solution rather on finding piecemeal solutions, the CM asked the department to prepare proposals and schemes only on need base and to properly identify and discourage such proposals that are based on individual interests. On this matter, the Chief Minister assured the department of government’s full support for any repercussions.
Also to avoid inconsistency in allotment of works, the CM proposed that all flood related infrastructure works should go to WRD as it is the department concerned.
Further the Chief Minister asked the department to map all rivers and rivulets in the capital city to check erosions and flooding. Also he informed that he would be conducting an aerial survey of the flood prone areas in East Siang, Lower Dibang Valley, Namsai and Changlang district.
Earlier in his introductory speech, the DCM highlighted on his recent tour of flood affected areas in Namsai district and apprised the CM that due to flooding of Nao-Dehing river embankment, the Mahadevpur town was in risk and a major catastrophe was imminent if no preventive measures are taken.
Speaking on flood-induced conflict, Minister Kamlung Mossang apprised the CM on how repeated occurrences of floods in Chakma inhabited areas in Changlang district were forcing them to migrate. This had in many instances led to conflict between the refugee community and the local inhabitants as the former were seen as encroacher, said the minister.
Also he spoke on the need to revive the flood infrastructure projects in Arunachal prepared by the ADB on whose funding China had objected.
