STATE: Giving the latest updates on the floods in Tripura, revenue secretary Brijesh Pandey said, as of date, 67 relief camps are still operational in Districts, providing shelter to 3,873 persons. The District Administration is providing necessary relief, including food, drinking water medical help, etc. To prevent the spreading of any waterborne diseases, regular cleaning of toilets, bleaching, disinfectant spraying, and a hygienic environment is being done.In a press meeting held at the state secretariat, he also informed that a total of 36 (thirty-six) persons have lost their lives, and 1 (one) person is reported to be missing. Out of these 36 deaths, 22 are due to landslides, 13 are due to drowning, and 1 is due to house collapse. The break up is 23 Males, 7 Females, and 6 Children. Full payment has been made in 26 cases out of 36 death cases Rs 4 lakh per case. In 7 cases partial payment has been made. Overall, Rs 104.85 lakh has been disbursed as ex-gratia.
The full payment for the remaining cases will be completed very soon.Due to the recent rain and floods, a total of 62,205 houses have been reported as damaged, which include 8,830 houses as fully damaged and 8,978 houses as severely damaged. Interim relief has been provided to the 10,483 houses for an amount of Rs11.92 crores. Free ration @10 kg per ration card for two (2) months, as announced under the Chief Minister’s Relief package, will be arranged in the next 10 days. In the academic sector, all schools and colleges are operational.Attendance in schools has reached to normal level. Around 20,000 books have been distributed to students in different schools. Mid-day meal kitchens are running in all the schools.
The revenue secretary said that out of 1,664 roads damaged, restoration works on 81 roads are completed, work on 187 roads is ongoing, tender for 553 roads is in progress, and 843 road estimates are being done. PWD is planning to complete major road restoration and repairs by October 5, 2024. Out of damaged 1,136 lift irrigation schemes, 140 schemes are restored, and 426 works are in progress. It is planned that 972 schemes will be restored before winter cropping season. The drinking water facility from piped water is functional in about 98% of the households. The remaining households in Jirania, Bishalgarh, Udaipur, Amarpur, Belonia, and Sabroom (96-98%) will be completed in a week. So far, the Health Department has conducted 2,632 camps and treated 1,10,289 persons in flood affected areas. There is no outbreak of any waterborne diseases or skin diseases in the State. Sufficient quantities of medicines are available. Power Department has restored power to all sub-divisions and divisions. Amarpur, Santirbazar, Sabroom, and Udaipur have 95-98% of the restoration, which shall be completed to 100% this week.The revenue secretary said that Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha held a review meeting at 04.00 pm in the Civil Secretariat on the relief and restoration activities post-flood.
The Chief Secretary, the PCCF, Tripura, Secretary, RR & DM, and Secretaries and Directors of various Departments were present in the meeting. During the meeting, the Chief Minister complimented the exemplary work carried out by officials of all the departments and District Collectors in providing immediate relief and rescue measures. This was possible as the whole administration worked as ‘Team Tripura’. Chief Minister has directed to continue the restoration work with the same vigor, energy, and speed as was shown in the relief and rescue operations during the floods time. During the meeting, no department expressed any shortage of funds. Instead, they were satisfied with the availability of funds for restoration works.
The Chief Minister also instructed the officials to ensure quality food, health, and hygiene in the relief camps, until people can return to their homes, ensure payment of ex-gratia to remaining families of death cases within this week, expedite the compensation in cases of damaged houses, finalize the Memorandum for final damage assessment within this week and send the same to Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India. He also instructed them to devise medium and long-term action plans for restoration work. Earlier in the Assembly the Chief Minister announced a financial package of Rs.564 crores for taking up immediate relief and restoration activities by various departments. During the meeting taken by the Chief Minister on August 27, 2024, departments had requested for release of some funds for immediate relief and restoration activities.
Subsequently, Departmental secretaries, while making a presentation before the Cabinet on August 30, 2024, requested for providing immediate financial resources for restoration activities. Accordingly, as per the request of each department, the financial package was formulated in consultation with the respective departments.The Finance Department was also consulted and after getting their consent, the financial package was finalized.