GUWAHATI: Amid criticism by Opposition parties for the apathetic attitude of the central government towards the flood situation in Assam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the north-eastern state on Tuesday to assess the damages caused by the worst deluge in this decade.
The PM on Monday also announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the floods in Assam and Rajasthan. He also announced Rs 50,000 each for those seriously injured in the floods in the two states, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
Sources said that the Prime Minister will arrive at 10 am and hold three meetings with the chief ministers of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh before flying back to Delhi in the evening. Manipur and Arunachal have been hit by flash floods and landslides.
With the water receding in Assam, Modi is unlikely to recce the flood-affected areas, the sources said.
The floods in Assam this year claimed 82 lives and affected over 20 lakh people in 29 of the state’s 32 districts. According to Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), about 5,000 people are still affected in Lakhimpur and Jorhat districts and 366 people are taking shelter in four relief camps in the two districts.
While the state reels under the effects of the deluge, the changing stances of the government regarding the availability of funds have invited criticism from the Opposition.
The Sonowal government had earlier sought a financial assistance of Rs 2,393 crore from the Centre, but the state’s finance minister on Monday asserted that funds were available to tackle the situation. “We still have Rs 324 crore of unspent money. Last year the Centre had announced Rs 400 crore (for Assam), but did not send it because we had money,” Sarma said.