tripura chief minister dr manik saha highlights flood relief efforts and financial support in assembly

Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha Highlights Flood Relief Efforts and Financial Support in Assembly

Agartala, Jan 10, 2025, By Our Correspondent133

Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha, while addressing the first day of the Winter Session of the Tripura Legislative Assembly on Friday, detailed the state government’s extensive efforts to provide relief and rehabilitation to those affected by the catastrophic floods that occurred between August 19 and 23, 2024. The Chief Minister highlighted the financial aid mobilized, the challenges faced, and the steps taken to ensure prompt assistance for the disaster-stricken population.

Flood Overview and Impact

Dr. Saha provided a comprehensive account of the devastation caused by the floods, which resulted from incessant rainfall, landslides, and river overflow. Among the 12 rivers in Tripura, all except the Juri river breached the danger level, with six rivers surpassing historical records.

Key Impacts of the Floods:

Affected Population: Approximately 17 lakh people.
Relief Camps: 889 camps housed around 2 lakh individuals.
Casualties: 38 lives lost, with many injuries reported.
Damaged Homes: 58,780 houses sustained damage.

Sectoral Economic Losses:

Agriculture: ₹3,252 crore.
Water Resources: ₹3,083 crore.
Rural Development: ₹3,009 crore.
Infrastructure (Roads and Bridges): ₹1,900 crore.
Fisheries and Livestock: ₹1,543 crore.

Emergency Response and Relief Measures

The Chief Minister commended the rapid response of various agencies, which played a pivotal role in minimizing loss of life and alleviating the suffering of affected residents.

Response Highlights:

Deployment of Teams:
- 32 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams.
- 11 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams.
- Assam Rifles, Fire and Emergency Services, Civil Defence, and Apada Mitras actively contributed.
Food and Water Distribution: Essential supplies were distributed across flood-affected areas. Helicopters were deployed to airdrop supplies in remote regions.
Shelter Arrangements: Schools and Anganwadis were converted into shelters for displaced families.

Dr. Saha personally visited the flood-hit areas and closely monitored the situation, accompanied by Cabinet ministers. He also convened an all-party meeting to seek a unified approach to tackling the disaster.

Relief Fund Contributions and Utilization

Dr. Saha informed the Assembly that ₹34.98 crore was donated to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) by individuals, organizations, and other state governments.

Utilization of CMRF:

₹12 crore allocated to the Revenue Department for initial relief work, followed by an additional ₹13 crore.
₹58 crore distributed to 53,830 families for home repairs.
₹6 crore spent on providing books, clothes, and utensils to affected families.

Central Government Assistance

To address the massive financial losses, Dr. Saha sought assistance from the Union Government. He wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, requesting the release of funds from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

Progress on Central Assistance:

Assessment: An Inter-Ministerial Central Team visited Tripura from August 28 to 31, 2024, to evaluate the damage.
Memorandum Submission: On September 13, 2024, the state government submitted a memorandum detailing losses worth ₹7,081 crore.
Allocations: ₹40 crore from SDRF and ₹25 crore from NDRF have been released. An additional immediate relief package worth ₹564 crore has been announced by the state government.

Dr. Saha expressed optimism about receiving further relief funds from the Central Government to support ongoing rehabilitation efforts.

Future Plans and Rehabilitation Efforts

The Chief Minister assured the Assembly that the state government is committed to rebuilding and rehabilitating affected communities. He emphasized the collaborative approach taken by all stakeholders and acknowledged the resilience shown by the people of Tripura.

“Together, we will overcome this crisis and restore normalcy,” Dr. Saha concluded, reiterating his confidence in the Central Government’s support and the strength of the people in facing adversity.