Assam's Flood Damage Assessment to Conclude by September 10
Flood Damage Assessment in Assam
Assam CM during his visit to flood affected districts in Upper Assam (Photo: @himantabiswa/X)
Jorhat, Aug 7: By September 10, Assam is expected to have a comprehensive assessment of the losses and damages caused by recent floods, along with the total funds needed for rehabilitation efforts. This information was shared by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during a press briefing following a training session with officials at the Jorhat Convention Centre.
Sarma announced that the initial phase of the assessment will take place from August 9 to August 30. A subsequent verification round will follow to correct any errors and ensure accuracy in the damage estimates.
"We anticipate having a clear understanding of the losses and the financial requirements to assist families affected by the floods by September 10," the Chief Minister stated.
To enhance transparency and reliability in the assessment process, a specialized digital application has been created. "Officials will upload photographs of the damages onto this app, and an assessment will be conducted by August 30, followed by a re-evaluation with the impacted families," he explained.
Training camps for district officials responsible for the survey are set to commence on Saturday.
Additionally, the government aims to provide a preliminary estimate of the funds needed from both state and central authorities for rehabilitation by August 30, after which support measures will be organized.
Regarding schools that remain unfit for reopening, the Chief Minister assured that students would be accommodated in nearby institutions. He also mentioned that Rs 2 lakh has been allocated to 793 flood-affected schools for initial repair work.
Addressing concerns about increasing urban flooding in Jorhat, Sarma emphasized that resolving this issue requires public cooperation, not just government intervention. "I have been addressing Guwahati's flooding issues since 2001. While we build drains, they require regular maintenance and cleaning. During these cleaning efforts, we often discover plastic bottles and household waste obstructing the drains," he noted.
Although he admitted he was not entirely familiar with Jorhat's flooding patterns, the Chief Minister instructed the district administration to investigate the situation thoroughly and implement necessary measures to tackle the problem.