Prime Minister of India - Dr. Manmohan Singh

Urgent steps be taken to ensure essential supplies to North East : PM

In an emergency meeting called by Prime Minister's Office, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, Shri T.K.A Nair took stock of the position of essential supplies in the North-eastern states. The meeting was held following damage of a railway bridge on the main arterial route to Lumding-Badarpur on the North Frontier Railway.

Shri Santosh Mohan Dev, Minister for Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises had met the Prime Minister to apprise him of the incident of damage to the bridge and the need to take immediate action to avoid any disruption in the flow of essential commodities to Assam and other North-eastern States. Prime Minister had directed for an immediate meeting to be taken by Principal Secretary to PM and attended by the Ministries of Railways, Food & Public Distribution, Petroleum, Road Transport, Home, and the Government of Assam. In the meeting, the State Government apprised that there are sufficient stocks of essential commodities, including foodgrains, petroleum products and other items that are available in the North-eastern States, and there is no cause for any alarm. Both FCI and IOC assured the State Government that the flow of foodgrains and petroleum products would be maintained. Principal Secretary to PM directed that the alternate routes identified for movement of goods would be maintained open round the clock, for which purpose BRO and NHAI would set up control centers on the identified Highways. The Railways have also been instructed to put in place necessary transshipment both for freight and passenger movement in consultation with the State Government of Assam. Assam Police and BRO have also been instructed to ensure that adequate checks are conducted to rule out over loading by transporters so that potential damage to bridges is avoided.

The meeting in Prime Minister's office was also attended by Shri Santosh Mohan Dev, Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, and Shri Bhumidhar Barman, Revenue Minister, Assam. PMO has also directed that Chief Secretary, Assam, while taking necessary action to ensure unhindered flow of essential commodities, would also hold weekly meetings with all concerned agencies to take continuous stock of the situation and keep the PMO apprised.