Central team in Arunachal to assess damage caused by natural calamities

Itanagar, May 2 (IANS) A six-member Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) arrived here on four-day visit to assess the damages caused by natural calamities like flood, cloud burst, landslides in the northeastern border state.

The central team headed by Joint Secretary, Home, V Shashank Shekhar also called on Chief Minister Pema Khandu, who explained to them in detail the recurring losses caused to the state due to unpredictable climatic conditions and rough terrain.

He reiterated that in terms of disasters caused by nature, the state faces an uphill task in relief and rehabilitation process besides restoring the losses and disrupted services.

Khandu called for viewing Arunachal Pradesh from a different perspective while drafting a report on the losses faced by the state which unfortunately has become a yearly phenomenon.

"Every year we face the same situation. Every year we lose precious lives. Every year the losses caused in infrastructures like roads, houses, water supply and power lines, bridges, agricultural land and crops, livestock, etc are huge," he said.

Khandu also requested the central team to give more emphasis on agriculture sector as majority of the people are marginal and poor farmers, who face huge loss during the monsoons.

The central team admitted the challenges faced by the state in terms of coping with natural calamities and providing relief and rehabilitation to affected people and assured the Chief Minister that they will work out with departments concerned and find out ways and means to offer the best possible assistance to the state government.

The central team are slated to visit places like Namsai, Pasighat, Mebo, Dambuk, Bordumsa, Tawang and other affected places of the state if and as the weather permits.

Chief Secretary Shakuntala D. Gamlin, Secretary Disaster Management J. Angu and Director Disaster Management Y.W. Ringu were also present during the meeting.

Earlier, the central team held a detailed meeting with departments concerned where officials made powerpoint presentations on the damages caused and loss incurred last year.