Prime Minister of India - Dr. Manmohan Singh

Flood relief package to Assam and Bihar

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has reviewed the flood situation in the States of Assam and Bihar. He discussed the situation with the Chief Ministers of the two States and assured all assistance to provide relief and rehabilitation to the flood victims in the two States. The Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister also had meetings with senior officials of the Ministries concerned.

The Central Government will release Rs.55 crore to Assam from the National Calamity Contingency Fund. The Planning Commission will sanction Rs.81 crore to the State as the Central share of the River Embankment Scheme. An amount of Rs.46 crore has already been released to the State as the Central share from the Calamity Relief Fund.

The Ministries of Home Affairs, Agriculture, Rural Development, Rural Drinking Water Supply, Finance, and Environment & Forest will be in contact with the Assam Government to provide all assistance. The Ministry of Water Resources will conduct an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas in the State. Seven helicopters have already been made available to the Assam Government for relief and rescue operations. The Railways will provide 58 goods rakes to the State to carry various commodities including food grains. The Army has made available 27 boats of the capacity of 15 persons to the Assam Government. BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd.) has been asked to restore the damaged telephone lines to all district headquarters and block headquarters.

In order to provide relief and rehabilitation to the people of the flood-affected areas of Bihar, the Central Government has released Rs.30 crore as the Central share of Calamity Relief Fund. The Army Authorities have been asked to provide three additional large helicopters and three small helicopters for rescue operations. The State Government has been asked to draw the required rice and wheat from FCI (Food Corporation of India), which has adequate food grains stock.

The Governments of Maharashtra and Gujarat have been requested to help Bihar Government in purchasing polythene materials for providing shelter for the flood-affected. Tents are also being procured from the Central paramilitary forces. Five goods rakes of fodder and five lakh units of vaccine for cattle are being made available to the State Government. Three sets of Satellite Phones are being provided to connect Sitamarhi, Sheohar and State Headquarters. The Ministry of Health is providing halogen tablets as requested for by the State Government. The Ministry of Petroleum will ensure release of adequate quantity of kerosene oil.

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