Bhalukpong Landslide: Pul Visits Sites, Distributes Ex-gratia Relief
Bhalukpong
Chief Minister Kalikho Pul Visited the Bhalukpong Land Slide site and Distributes ex-gratia relief of Rs 4 lakh each to the kin of 10-deceased person who lost their lives in the massive landslide incident occurred on July 1.
The Chief Minister handed the ex-gratia payment to the families of late Lil Bahadur Chetry, 56, late Dilip Kol, 16, late Hiren Barman, 52, late Durga Barman, 49, late Rina Barman, 25, late Pinky Boro, 40, late Sanjana Chetri, 9, late Niki Boro, 10, late Angel Lenuo Solo, 9 months and late Purnima Chetry, 43 during a simple function organized in the Indigenous Faith ground.
The CM also handed over ex-gratia relief of Rs 1 lakh to the injured Mohan Barman, 29, Dev Bahadur Mizar, 21, Santosh Thapa, 20 and Pankaj Siyakati.
Extending humanitarian gesture, the CM offered a government job to Samina Boro, as work casual who lost her mother Pinky Boro and sister Niki Boro in the accident.
Asserting that there should be no discrimination in distribution of relief, the Chief Minister said that it is perhaps first time that ex-gratia relief is also being handed to the non-tribal community, who earlier did not receive such benefits.
He also said the present government is committed to prevent misuse of relief funds as was done earlier and announced that there would be no fund shortage for relief informing that each district has been sanctioned Rs 50 lakhs.
Meeting the families of the victims, the Chief Minister offered his heartfelt condolences and regretted that he could not visit them earlier, as he was in New Delhi at the time of the accident. He also sent words of condolences on behalf of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju.
On hearing about the accident, the CM said he had immediately directed the DC Bomdila to reach on the spot with all department officials, police team and medical team and to carry out the search and rescue operation.
He informed that he had also asked the administration to use Rs 30 lakhs on its disposal for immediate relief activities and has sanction Rs 1 crore for further restoration activities.
The Chief Minister thanked paramilitary personnel, BRTF, NDRF, HODs, panchayat leaders, and the local people for rendering help in search and rescue operation.
Terming the incident as unfortunate, the CM urged the people to learn from the tragedy. “The accident is our own making,” he asserted and observed that the accident site became prone to landslide because of the earth cutting activities.
The Chief Minister asked the district administration to strictly ban people from unmindful and rampant earth cutting to prevent such accident in future. He also directed the administration to impose strict penalty especially those involved in rock and gravel mining on the banks of the river.
The CM expressed regret on absentee officials who despite the tragic accident were not present in their posting place. Lamenting their absence, he asked the administration for disciplinary actions and suspension of erring officials.
The Chief Minister earlier visited the accident spot where the buildings of the inspection bungalow and circuit house suffered damaged. He visited the spot where all the deceased had met their tragic end and also inspected the extent of damage to the buildings, and the damage caused to the water and power supply system.
For restoration of the IB and the circuit house, the CM asked the administration to prepare a proposal for reconstruction of the buildings. He also asked for immediate repair and restoration of water facilities on top priority and SOS basis assuring that there would be no shortage of funds in repair works.
The Chief Minister also visited the Tippi bridge point and Kola camp to inspect river erosion and asked the department to prepare proposals for protection works. He also for a proposal for a protection walls near the Bhalukpong guesthouse whose boundary walls faces the risk of falling due to river erosion.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Power Minister TN Thongdok, Yachuli MLA Likha Saaya, Tali MLA Markio Tado and Raga MLA Tamar Murtem.
