AGARTALA: Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Saturday chaired an all-party meeting to discuss the flood prevailing situation in the state.
Leaders from across party lines attended the meeting and deliberated on measures to provide relief to those affected by the floods.
During the meeting, the opposition Congress demanded to declare Tripura’s flood a national disaster, while CPI-M proposed to press the Centre to send a team to inspect the flood situation immediately.
Chief Minister Saha said, according to preliminary estimates, the state has suffered losses amounting to Rs 15,000 crore, which will be increased further in the final survey.
The opposition parties suggested constituting an assembly-level committee with the local MLAs and officials to oversee the relief operation and damage assessment.
They also advised the government to undertake a project to dredge the riverbeds of all 10 major rivers in the state as years of severe siltation, caused by soil erosion and human activities, have raised the riverbeds, thereby reducing their water-holding capacity. This has led to flash floods and inundation, even during periods of relatively small rainfall.
CPI (M) State Committee Secretary Jitendra Chaudhury advised to undertake steps for strengthening of embankments of Kathakhal and River Haora, which protect Agartala from flood water.
BJP’s ally in the government TIPRA Motha leaders demanded to increase the amount of compensation to the deceased and ensure adequate support to the affected people.
The chief minister directed the schools to provide free books to students who were affected due to floods.
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With the fear of outbreaks of waterborne diseases looming large due to contamination of water and sanitation, the chief minister said bleaching powders will be sprayed at the shelter homes, flood-affected houses, and schools.
CM Saha announced ex-gratia payments of Rs 4 lakh to the families of those who lost their lives and Rs 2.5 lakh to the injured.
The floods have claimed 24 lives in Tripura so far.
