Union Minister of State Home Mishra reviews flood situation in Sikkim
Gangtok : Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Ajay Kumar Mishra on Saturday reviewed the flood situation after a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood occurred in parts of Lhonak Lake in Sikkim.
The review meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Vijay Bhushan Pathak, state and central government officials, including from
the Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Border Roads Organisation, National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) at Tashiling Secretariat.
“The government of India is closely monitoring the situation in Sikkim and all the necessary support and assistance for the State is underway,” Mishra said.
He informed that the government has constituted an Inter-Ministerial Committee comprising of senior officers from five Union Ministries of Agriculture, Road Transport & Highways, Jal Shakti, Energy and Finance.
“The team will visit the State from tomorrow to take stock of the ground situation, assess the damages and provide assistance wherever necessary,” the Union Minister said.
He further informed that the Central Government has granted an advance sanction of the allocated budget for NDRF and SDRF for 2023-24 to enable the State to carry out immediate rescue, relief and restoration.
“The Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister are in constant touch with the state Chief Minster with regard to the extent of damages and rescue and relief work,” he said, adding that the government stands in solidarity with the people of Sikkim and will leave no stone unturned to restore normalcy in the State.
Meanwhile, the Union Minister urged the State government officials to prepare a short term and long-term plan to effectively accomplish the task of re-building the damaged/lost infrastructure in the shortest possible time.
Lauding the relentless efforts of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang Golay, who is endeavouring laboriously for the State to tide over this crisis situation, the Union Minister appreciated the efforts of the State administration, the Army, BRO, ITBP and all agencies that are working in tandem with the State government.
Earlier, Chief Secretary Pathak briefed the Union Minister of State about the sequence of events since the early hours of October 4 that led to the disaster, and the extent of damages.
Pathak apprised the Union Minister of State about the extensive damages to roads and other vital infrastructures like telecommunication, water and electricity. The Chief Secretary also informed about the casualties and the status of the relief camps and steps being taken by the State Government in active coordination with the army, NDRF, BRO, ITBP and all other agencies.
