After reviewing the damage caused by floods in Assam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an assistance of over Rs 2,350 crore on 1 August. He held a series of high-level meetings in Guwahati.
Along with the assistance, PM Modi also sanctioned an ex-gratia assistance of Rs 2 lakh to next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the seriously injured.
The prime minister, who arrived at the Lokopriyo Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, was received by Governor Banwarilal Purohit and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. From the airport, he flew by a helicopter to the Veterinary College Ground at Khanapara.
He was received at the Staff College by the chief minister, his cabinet colleagues and senior state government officials.
The prime minister will also address a meeting of the ruling BJP and its alliance partners, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bodo Peoples' Front (BPF).
“The prime minister’s visit is mainly to find a permanent solution to the flood problem that Assam is facing,” state Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said at a press conference.
He will hold two series of discussions here during the day and will leave for Delhi in the evening, he added.
Asked about the state's demand, Sarma said Assam has enough funds.
We still have Rs 324 crore of unspent money. Last year the Centre had announced Rs 400 crore (for Assam), but did not send it because we had money.
Sarma, however, said the state government will submit a memorandum with some demands.
Earlier during the day, Congress leader and former chief minister Tarun Gogoi said Modi is paying a "token visit to the state only after facing severe criticism from all quarters as he visited Gujarat, but neglected Assam."
The PMO requested Assam government to furnish details of requirement of funds along with a list incorporating the names of the dead in flood, their next of kin and seriously injured persons.
A seven-member inter-ministerial central team had visited Assam on 25 July for four days to carry out an on-the-spot assessment of flood damage.
The flood situation in the state has improved but one more person was killed in Morigaon district taking the toll in the natural calamity to 83, including eight in Guwahati.
According to Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), about 5,000 people are still affected in Lakhimpur and Jorhat districts and 366 people are taking shelter in four relief camps in the two districts.
This year, two waves of floods in the state have affected around 25 lakh people from 29 districts prompting the administration to set up 1,098 distribution centres and relief camps, where about 1.32 lakh people took shelter.
(With PTI inputs.)
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