Friday, 26 September 2014

Assam floods: Tarun Gogoi seeks Rs 1,000 crore aid, accuses Centre of discrimination

Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, however, denied any discrimination saying that Jammu and Kashmir had to be helped as flood was not a regular phenomenon there and the administration had no idea how to tackle it.
  
"Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release Rs 1,000 crore as immediate relief to flood-hit Assam," a release from the CMO said.
  
The state would be able to make a correct assessment of the damages only after waters recedes in Goalpara, Dhubri, Kamrup Rural and Kamrup Metro districts that bore the brunt of the disaster.
  
Gogoi also apprised Modi of the loss of lives, extensive damages to roads, bridges, houses and cropped land by the recent wave of floods causing huge losses, it said.
  
The Chief Minister informed the Prime Minister about the steps initiated by the state government to rescue the marooned people and to provide relief to them.
  
Earlier in the day, Gogoi alleged that Assam was being discriminated against by the Centre saying the state should get the same treatment as received by Jammu and Kashmir.
  
"Their's (J-K) is a one-year affair. Ours is an every year affair," Gogoi told reporters.
  
Assam Power Minister Pradyut Bordoloi also said, "We had hoped to get the same help from the Centre. Assam's floods were unprecedented."
  
Responding to the accusations, Rijiju said, "Jammu and Kashmir government does not know how to handle floods as it does not occur there regularly.
  
"(But) floods in Assam are a recurring problem, so the government knows how to handle it. We have responded to the floods in Assam. We will not allow any discrimination. We will never allow that. Money has already been given for the State Disaster Relief Fund. Extra NDRF force will also be given," Rijiju, who hails from the Northeast region, told reporters.
  
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had on Wednesday called up Giorgi to take stock of the flood situation in the state and assured him of all help from the Centre. 

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi will make an aerial survey of flood-ravaged areas of Goalpara district on Friday to take stock of the situation there.
  
A statement from the Chief Minister's Office said that Goalpara is the worst affected district where 16 people have lost their lives so far because of the floods.
  
Gogoi will also visit the relief camps opened by the district administration at Balbala, Agia and Bhalukdubi.
  
Besides, he is also scheduled to meet district officials at Goalpara town to take stock of the flood situation, the statement said.
  
The Chief Minister will be accompanied by senior officials of the Water Resources and Revenue and Disaster Management Departments.

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