Due to the recent floods in the state the Forest Department has estimated losses amounting to between Rs. 15-20 crore. Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma shared this assessment during a press conference on Wednesday, highlighting severe damage to critical infrastructure, including check dams, plantations, and forestry-related facilities.
The floods have wreaked havoc on Sal and Teak plantations, rubber and agro-forestry areas, and essential infrastructure such as vocational training centers under the Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC), range office buildings, boundary walls, and sanctuary fencing. According to Minister Debbarma, approximately 450-470 check dams have been completely destroyed.
R.K. Samal, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force, along with Pravin Agarwal, PCCF and CEO of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) project, also attended the press conference. They outlined the full scope of the damage caused by the floods.
In response to the disaster, the Forest Department has been actively engaged in relief efforts, ensuring aid reaches the most affected regions. Minister Debbarma reported that on September 3, relief materials were distributed to 190 families in the Sabroom subdivision, while on September 10, nearly 200 families in the Dhalai district received essential supplies. Each family was provided with basics such as rice, cooking oil, salt, onions, dried fish, and a financial aid of ₹500.
The minister personally visited the flood-hit regions to oversee relief efforts and distribute supplies. He confirmed that further aid distribution is planned for tomorrow in the Amarpur subdivision.
Additionally, the Forest Department has contributed Rs. 10 lakh to the Chief Minister’s relief fund and has set up a Rapid Task Force Committee to clear fallen trees and restore road access in the affected areas. This task force is working to speed up recovery efforts and help return to normalcy.
