Central package sought; Rijiju appealed to visit site

 

ITANAGAR, Oct 12: On behalf of the Galo community and donors from other communities, the Galo Welfare Society (GWS) has handed over a relief package of Rs 15,09,437 as the second instalment for mitigating the hardships of the Ego camp flood victims to the Chairman, Interim Relief Fund Raising Committee (IRFRC) on October 10 last.
With this instalment, the total relief package delivered by the GWS as of now stands at Rs 18,89,432 (including the first instalment of Rs 3,79,995). During the handover ceremony at Ego camp, EAC Mokar Riba also gave an additional amount of Rs 1,44,001 on behalf of the 2003 batch APCS officers to the Chairman, IRFRC as a token of help for the flood victims. On the occasion, the flood victims while apprising the delegation of their untold miseries, also alleged that the disaster was a man-made one due to negligence of the road construction agency. Expressing solidarity with the flood-affected families, President GWS, Er.Tanga Kena who led the delegation assured them to pursue the issues such as immediate restoration of electricity and potable water supply and revival of road communication and adequate relief and rehabilitation packages with the competent authorities of the Central and State governments.
It needs mentioning that the entire Ego valley has been in complete darkness since September 17 last when heavy floods and landslides ravaged the area and damaged the Dali Hydel power plant. Taking strong exception to the deplorable condition of the 2-lane Akajan-Likabali-Bame highway and inordinate delay in completion of the project by the construction agencies which is causing untold miseries to the commuters of the five districts and defence personnel, GWS has demanded that the executing agency be directed by the Central and State Government for immediate completion of the road. The visiting team also expressed its discontent over the delay in commencement of construction of the temporary Bailey bridge even after a lapse of 24 days which is contrary to the statement of the Union MoS, Sports, Youth Affairs & Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju on September 27 wherein he stated that the NHIDCL of MoRTH had assured him to construct the bridge within 8-10 days. Instead of the Bailey bridge, a temporary spun pipe river crossing is under construction which will be easily breached and washed away even by a small downpour. While requesting the Central and State government to immediately restore road communication in Ego camp and start construction of the Bailey bridge, the GWS has appealed to Rijiju, who is also the local MP to visit the area along with a Central Relief Team for making an on-the-spot assessment of the  quantum of damages and announce a suitable relief and rehabilitation package for the flood victims.
The GWS President further informed that the Galo Gumin Highway & Infrastructure Coordination Committee (GGH &ICC) has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Retired Secretary, GoAP Er.Tomi Ete to coordinate with the government, executing agencies, common people and contractors for successful completion of major projects like highways, bridges, water supply, telecommunication, sewerage disposal, stadiums etc.  in all Galo inhabited districts. GWS General Secretary Gomar Basar also spoke on the occasion. Later in the evening, the team conducted a meeting with the MLA, Basar, Gokar Basar and discussed with him the relief and rehabilitation measures to be taken up for flood victims. The local MLA along with a few senior local elders of Basar assured the delegation to donate land for establishment of a Galo Secretariat-cum-Heritage site at Basar in Lepa Rada district. The delegation also inspected the flood damages at Padi, Chisi and Dali villages and the construction site of the 2-lane highway on September 11. 
It can be recalled that the September 17 disaster, one of the worst so far in the region, besides causing two deaths and rendering countless homeless has totally wiped out various business establishments like shops and hotels and properties worth crores of rupees have been destroyed. The GWS has expressed its gratitude to all the well-wishers for their humanitarian contribution to the flood victims. 
Besides the President and GS, various other office bearers of the organisation were part of the visiting delegation. GWS PR

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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