Opposition says relief materials yet to reach flood victims

More than one lakh people were rendered homeless in the flood caused by the back flow of water in the Brahmaputra in Assam and Jingiram river in Meghalaya during June-July earlier this year.

Over 14,500 houses in Phulbari, Rajabala, Nollbari, Islampur areas were either completely under the water or were partly submerged and were unfit and unsafe to use.

"There are lots of shortages of essential food items and there was not enough relief materials provided to the affected people," Conrad K Sangma, Leader of Opposition said during question hour on the first day of the 3-day autumn session which began today.

The government must have improved delivery system to make sure that the relief materials reach the targeted groups, he said.

In his reply, Revenue and Disaster management Minister R C Laloo said 1,09,397 persons were affected by the floods recently.

He said the government has set up 15 relief camps to rehabilitate them and 4,33,884.6 kg of rice, 76,000 kg of dal and 2,820 litres of disinfectant were distributed at these camps.

The government has also dug over 22,000 tubewell for drinking water besides construction of 1,325 pit latrines at the camp site, he said.

The minister assured the House that he would visit the affected areas before election which is due early next year.