CM Sonowal visits Silchar, takes stock of COVID-19, flood & landslide occurrence

June 4: Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday paid a visit to Barak Valley to assess and review the landslide affected areas and also to take stock of flood and COVID-19 situation in southern Assam.

As a part of the meeting, the Chief Minister announced that a landslide monitoring and response committee will be formed with Deputy Commissioners of respective districts as Chairperson. The committee will monitor the vulnerable areas which bear risk of landslides.

On his arrival, the Chief Minister held a meeting with heads of the three districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi and announced that the State Government will conduct survey of the sites vulnerable to landslides and assistance would be taken from the Geological Survey of India so that no more lives are lost due to landslides. Officials of respective districts updated the Chief Minister regarding COVID-19 treatment facilities.

The Chief Minister said that to facilitate movement of the people in the state, the Government has arranged for 1.32 lakh buses. He asked the Health Department officials to lay more emphasis on the guidelines issued for social distancing, wearing of masks, social distancing and maintaining cleanliness at all costs. Principal of Silchar Medical College Dr Babul Kumar Bezbaruah informed the Chief Minister about the day to day treatment proceedings of COVID-19 patients at the hospital.

The Chief Minister advised the officials of the Food and Civil Supplies to keep sufficient stock of food and ensure quality of food. Sonowal directed the officials to ensure proper arrangements of essentials at the flood relief camps and asked the officials to maintain close watch on the social distancing factors at the camps. He also asked concerned officials to see that warnings and alerts on lightening and thunderstorms are available beforehand and asked departments to ensure food for the cattle during floods. The Chief Minister appreciated the efforts taken by all and hoped that such cohesive efforts taken by all shall ensure a safe way to come out of the present crisis.

On the other hand, ahead of World Environment Day on June 5, the Chief Minister urged everyone to plant at least one sapling. He congratulated efforts of the Forest Department and informed that a decision has been taken to plant 1.5 crore saplings in the coming 1 and half month across each and every part of the state involving MPs, MLAs, DCs and officials along with spontaneous public participation.

Chief Minister Sri Sarbananda Sonowal provided ex-gratia of Rs four lakh each to the next of kin of four landslide victims. Minister for environment and forest, Parimal Suklabaidya, Silchar MP Rajdeep Roy, all the MLAs of Barak Valley, DCs of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi Keerthi Jalli, Anbamuthan MP and MN Dahal, respectively, SPs Manabendra Dev Roy, Kumar Sanjit Krishna and Pabindra Kumar Nath respectively and other senior officials of the three districts were present in the meeting.