
The flood situation is still in a critical condition as the water of Ranganadi is flowing through the breached portions of its embankment in Bogoleejan, Jainpur and Aamtola. Till yesterday, 10 lakh people were affected in the latest wave of floods across 21 districts in the state. He said, the Chief Secretary held a review meeting with Deputy Commissioners of flood-hit districts through video conferencing today and told to give stress on providing health service and pure drinking water. He said 52 persons died in flood-related incidents. Farmers in the flood affected areas should also be provided quality seeds for cultivation in coordination with the District Agriculture Officers, Mr Sonowal directed.
The Assam minister further said that, the district administration had distributed 40,640 quintal rice, 7,530 quintal dal, 2,462 quintal salt, 16,298 liters mustard oil, 28,674 numbers tarpaulin among the flood-affected people and set up 711 relief distribution centres. He announced that there has been a scarcity of drinking water in flood-hit areas and assured of taking strong actions against the officials concerned.
The floods have the potential to drain the public exchequer as 200,000 hectares of cropland were submerged, which will affect the state's farming economy.
DHS Approves 15000 Additional Temporary Worker Visas
Many seasonal businesses and members of Congress have pleaded with Kelly to issue the visas, citing an urgent need for workers. Kelly said there are not enough qualified workers available to American businesses for fiscal year 2017.
Sonowal also instructed the officials to take steps to prevent outbreak of diseases in the aftermath of the floods.
Sonowal also directed the the deputy commissioners to take along the people's representatives in properly managing relief and rescue operations and no lapse will be tolerated in providing relief material to the flood affected people. The Governor, who arrived here on Friday to assess the flood situation in Lakhimpur and Dhemaji district, addressed a press conference in North Lakhimpur Circuit House.
Meanwhile, authorities on Monday afternoon sounded an alert in North Lakhimpur town and adjoining villages in the wake of the North-Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) informing that it would release a huge quantity of water from its Ranganadi hydro-electric project in Arunachal Pradesh.