A six-member inter-ministerial team from the Centre on Thursday visited flood-affected areas in Bilat Circle of East Siang district and Kora Circle of Lower Siang district in Arunachal Pradesh to assess the damage caused by recent flash floods and erosion.
The team, led by Nishtha Tiwari, Joint Secretary (IS-II) in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, interacted with affected families, heard their grievances and assured them that relief and rehabilitation measures would be taken up with Central assistance.
During the visit, the team directed state government officials to prepare detailed estimates for compensation to people who suffered losses to private property, as well as for the restoration of damaged public infrastructure.
At Ledum village, Mirem Block ZPM Tabir Tatan briefed the delegation about the extensive losses caused by flash floods and river erosion in the area. The team also visited flood-damaged fish ponds and agricultural land belonging to local farmer Olik Tapok Taloh, who shared her concerns over the destruction caused by the disaster.
The delegation later inspected the damaged RCC bridge over the Rema River in Kora Circle. The bridge, located on the Pasighat-Tene-Koyu PWD Road, suffered structural damage after floodwaters eroded part of its central pillar on June 28. Authorities have since carried out temporary repairs, allowing only light vehicles to use the bridge.
Besides the Home Ministry, the inter-ministerial delegation included officials from the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Union Finance Ministry, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and the Ministry of Rural Development.
The team was accompanied by Pasighat West MLA Ninong Ering, Nari-Koyu MLA Tojir Kadu, East Siang ZPC Ruth Tabing Boko, PRI representatives, district administration officials and officers from the Agriculture, Disaster Management and engineering departments.
After completing the field inspection, the delegation left Ruksin for Itanagar. The team is scheduled to meet Chief Minister Pema Khandu, the Chief Secretary and other senior state government officials on Friday to review the overall flood situation and discuss further assistance.
