Concluding its four-day assessment of damage caused by recent floods and landslides in Nagaland, the five-member inter-ministerial central team found lacunae in the state government’s memorandum to the Centre and asked the latter to furnish the missing details so that it can finalise its report.
The team led by joint secretary, ministry of home affairs, KB Singh concluded its four-day visit on Friday. It covered areas in Dimapur, Wokha, Phek and Kohima districts to have a first-hand report on disaster-affected areas but could not reach the worst-affected Kiphire district due to inclement weather and lack of road connectivity.
After assessing the ground situation, Singh shared his observation with the state government officials in Kohima on Friday night. He said details such as demographics of the affected districts, number of villages and agriculture land needed to be included.
The team reportedly assessed damage in seven sectors in Dimapur district, Doyang area in Wokha where agricultural land as well as infrastructure had been damaged, 15 sites in Kohima district and some areas in Phek district, besides interacting with the district administrations and villagers as well.
Singh said the report presentations on the ground need to be updated as some information were found to be overlapping.
He asked the deputy commissioners to submit updated reports of damages caused by recent floods and landslides in their respective districts. Singh said the reports submitted by the DCs would have to be updated by including more details in them. He advised the DCs to provide details as annexure.
The team, however, expressed satisfaction on the report submitted by the Kiphire deputy commissioner.
Singh advised the state government to take all stakeholders into account while preparing state and district disaster management plans. While stating that the team will try to submit its report within a week, he said the team would need the missing details at the earliest so as to enable it to submit the report to the Centre.
The state government had sought an urgent relief of around Rs 800 crore from the Centre for restoration of roads and rebuilding the damages.
Nagaland chief secretary RB Thong thanked the central team for visiting the state. He said the team could not be taken to interior areas due to inclement weather and lack of road connectivity.
The chief secretary asked the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority and district disaster management authorities to furnish detailed report at the earliest so that funds could be released early to the state government.
