Union Minister makes aerial survey of flood-hit areas of AP

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju conducted an aerial survey of flood- affected areas of Arunachal Pradesh today.
Rijiju covered West Siang, East Siang, Lower Dibang Valley, Lohit, Namsai in Arunachal, besides Dibrugarh, Dhemaji and North Lakhimpur districts in Assam.
The minister would again conduct an aerial survey tomorrow covering Papum Pare (Sagalee and Megio areas), Daporijo in Upper Subansiri, East Kameng (Seijosa), Bhalukpong (West Kameng) before going back to Delhi.
The relief and rehabilitations are provided on immediate and long-term basis, Rijiju said, adding that the immediate relief would be granted on receipt of the final report of assessment of damages from the state government which may take one to two months.

"We will release the amount to state's disaster relief fund," said Rijiju who is also in-charge of the disaster management department.
The long-term reconstruction would involve major damages to roads like Trans-Arunachal Highway (TAH) and other infrastructures for which Rijiju assured to pursue other departments.

However, as in-charge of roads of seven NE states excluding Assam, he said he would urge the Union Minister of Road, Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari to release additional funds for the maintenance of the highway.
"We will be sending an inter-ministerial team to assess the damages caused by the flood fury," he added.
Monsoon rains leave a trail of devastation like snapping road links, damaging properties and standing crops, washing away houses and livestock every year in Arunachal.

Earlier, the CM disclosed that the flood damage reports are sent daily to the ministry but at the end a consolidated report would be sent followed by the visit of a Central team before the grant of Central flood relief.