TURA:
In view of the upcoming South West Monsoon season in the Garo Hills, particularly after last year’s natural disasters that destroyed homes and took away lives, a high-level district meeting on its preparedness was held on Friday, at the District Resource Centre in Baghmara, South Garo Hills, chaired by Deputy Commissioner cum Chairman District Disaster Management Authority S Awasthi.
During the meeting, Pipson Ch Marak, District Disaster Management Officer Baghmara gave a presentation that highlighted the different mode of rescue operations and relief assistance undertaken by the department in the major disaster, further informing the gathering about the Revised Rate of Assistance from the State Disaster response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for 2022-23 to 2025-26 where Rs 1,20,000 per house in plain areas for pucca house and Rs 1,30,000 for kutcha house in the hilly areas will be compensated for the loss of houses.
Also, there is a provision for partially damaged houses for both pucca and
kutcha houses of Rs 65,000 and Rs 4,000 and for cattle shed damage Rs 3000 per shed would be sanctioned, he clarified.
Similarly, assistance will be provided for damages to bridges and roads, drinking water supply scheme, irrigation system, power, school repairs, community assets, fishery, assistance for land and other loss, agriculture and other relief measures.
He added that ex-gratia payment to families of deceased persons is Rs 4 lakh per person and ex-gratia payment to the loss of limb/eyes is Rs 74,000 to Rs 2.50 lac depending on the seriousness of the patient.
The Deputy Commissioner of South Garo Hills district S Awasthi discussed the different ways and measures to minimise or prevent unlikely disasters that may occur.
He also called upon the district machineries to stay vigil whenever the duty calls for during such disaster or calamities.