The Central Study Team, which came to take stock of the damage caused by excess rainfall and floods in the State, has lauded the promptness shown in moving people from flood-affected areas to safer places and the ongoing relief works. The members of the team said that it is indeed an overwhelming fact that despite such extreme rainfall and flood situation, no casualties were reported.
There has been loss of crops, houses, livestock, but people in the flood affected areas have faith that their losses will be compensated and the state government will re-establish the arrangements as soon as possible.
The team lauded the flood relief management at the district level. The Central Study Team expressed this view in a meeting with the Chief Secretary Iqbal Singh Bains in Mantralaya after visiting the most affected districts of rains and floods including Raisen, Sehore, Hoshangabad, Harda and Dewas.
Chief Secretary Iqbal Singh Bains urged that a separate central team should be sent on tour of the state as soon as possible to assess the loss of crops due to insect diseases. He said that with this the team will enable direct observation of the affected crops which will help the central government in practical assessment of losses for fixing proper relief.
Members of the Central Study Team said that it is clear from the beginning during the visits to the districts that there has been large scale loss of crops, houses, livestock and infrastructure. Water logging in the fields has damaged soybean as well as paddy crop. Apart from damage from excess rain and floods, insect disease has caused more damage to crops. This requires separate assessment. If necessary, the team will once again visit the state.
The Central Inter-Ministerial Team led by Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Home, Ashutosh Agnihotri, includes Director, Union Ministry of Finance Shri Subhash Chandra Meena, Director of Union Ministry of Agriculture A.K. Tiwari, Superintending Engineer of Union Jalshakti Ministry Manoj Tiwari, Superintending Engineer of Union Ministry of Road Transport Sumit Kumar and Director (NRLM) of Union Ministry of Rural Development Saurabh Kumar Dube.
State Agricultural Production Commissioner, K.K. Singh, Additional Chief Secretary Water Resources S.N. Mishra, Principal Secretary Farmers Welfare Ajit Kesari, Principal Secretary Revenue Manish Rastogi and other officials were present in the meeting.