Guwahati: Assam govt on Thursday sought a dedicated central support package for the four worst flood-hit districts and has urged the Centre to recognise this year’s deluge as an “atypical, high-intensity, rapid-onset event”.The demands were placed before the inter-ministerial central team (IMCT), which concluded a four-day assessment of the devastation in Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat and Golaghat on Wednesday.“The floods this year has been on an unprecedented scale, leaving behind a trail of devastation which our double engine govt will mitigate to sufferings of our people,” CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said in a post on X after the team completed its visit.Sarma said the state had sought flexible norms for assessing damage and extending financial assistance. It also requested a dedicated package for relief, housing, infrastructure repairs and livelihood restoration in the four districts. The amount sought was not disclosed.“During the review, the team was apprised of the extensive damage caused to critical infrastructure, agriculture and livelihoods,” he said.The govt also proposed setting up a northeast disaster risk reduction mechanism and sought relaxation of documentation and eligibility norms under central and centrally sponsored schemes to allow affected families to access assistance without procedural hurdles.The govt also sought a rapid multi-agency assessment and the strengthening of breached embankments along hill-fed rivers before the next monsoon.Assam further requested the convergence of disaster assistance with national schemes covering housing, drinking water, agriculture, healthcare and social protection. It also sought targeted support for women, children, persons with disabilities and the elderly.“We are confident that the team will keep the ground realities and our best interests in mind and communicate to the Centre accordingly,” Sarma said.Union home minister Amit Shah spoke to Sarma on Wednesday for the second time in a week to review the situation and assured the state of all possible support for relief, rehabilitation and restoration.
