Minister Parimal Suklabaidya reviews COVID-19 situation, flood preparedness in Hailakandi

June 2: Minister for Environment and Forest, Parimal Suklabaidya reviewed the COVID-19 situation in the wake of a spike in number of positive cases in Hailakandi district in the past couple of days.

Reviewing the situation with the MLAs, Deputy Commissioner, senior officials of the district administration and health department, Superintendent of Police, Circle Officers and heads of concerned departments at DC’s conference hall here on Tuesday, Minister Suklabaidya said that the administration must ensure good quality food at the quarantine centres, including fish and other non veg items to the inmates lodged at the quarantine centres. “They are our people who have had to come back due to the unprecedented situation. Every care has to be taken for these people in distress put up in the quarantine centres, including good quality food,” said Suklabaidya.

The Minister, who is in charge of the three districts of Barak Valley, urged the Deputy Commissioner, the MLAs and officials concerned to personally supervise the arrangements at the quarantine centres and to ensure basic facilities to the inmates. Suklabaidya said that all measures should be taken such as physical distancing, wearing of masks, regular sanitisation and hygiene at the quarantine centres to prevent contamination.

Deputy Commissioner, MN Dahal apprised the Minister about the steps taken by the administration for quarantining incoming persons and the facilities being provided to them. Dahal said that the government has provided Rs.2, 000 each to people under institutional quarantine, and no separate allocation has been made for people living in containment zones. The Deputy Commissioner said that the administration would review the areas brought under four containment zones and may exclude some areas depending upon the situation.

The Minister also reviewed the flood preparedness following incessant rainfall in the past few days leading to rise in water levels of the major rivers. Suklabaidya directed the Executive Engineer, Water Resources department to work on a war footing to plug the breaches and to strengthen the embankments. The Minister asked the official to inform about the progress of work, funds sanctioned and also projects and schemes yet to be sanctioned to the MLAs concerned and the Deputy Commissioner for needful steps. The Executive Engineer apprised the Minister that flood protection works have been completed at 14 most vulnerable points, including Mohonpur and Sonacherra-Rupacherra. The Minister asked the official to complete the remaining embankment work at Tosla at the earliest.

Deputy Commissioner, Dahal apprised the Minister about the review meeting he had convened on flood preparedness and his instruction to the Circle Officers to inspect the flood protection works especially at the vulnerable points. Dahal said that he would initiate steps to inform the people through district publicity office about the status of ongoing flood protection works, as ‘transparency has to be maintained at all strata of administration’.

The Minister inquired about the availability of essential commodities and the officer concerned informed him that there was sufficient stock of essentials in the district to tide over the flood situation. Suklabaidya also instructed the Executive Engineer, Public Health Engineering department to mitigate the acute drinking water crisis in some parts of the district and to arrange water through tankers, including chemically treated drinking water pouch to the affected people. The Minister asked the Executive Engineer, APDCL to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the people and to replace the damaged transformers in quick time with the help of the administration and MLA concerned.

Deputy Commissioner, Dahal informed the Minister that relief camps have been identified, requisitioning of country boats for rescue and relief operations done, stocking of essential commodities, including gratuity relief purpose, fodder for livestock for the flood season. At the end, Minister Suklabaidya exhorted upon the officials of the district administration and district heads of different departments to gird up their loin amid the coronavirus outbreak and flood season. “Everyone must be on their toes to deal with any exigency and there is no room for complacency,” quipped Suklabaidya.

The meeting was attended, among others, by MLA, Suzamuddin Laskar, MLA, Anwar Hussain Laskar, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Health, EL Faihraem, Additional Deputy Commissioner cum CEO, DDMA, RK Dam, Superintendent of Police, Pabindra Kumar Nath, Circle Officers and heads of concerned departments.