Assam is likely to have a clear estimate of flood-related losses, damage and the total funds required for rehabilitation by September 10, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, after the first phase of a door-to-door assessment of flood-hit households in four Upper Assam districts is completed.
Sarma told reporters at a training meeting with officials at the Jorhat Convention Centre that the first phase of the assessment will be conducted from August 9 to August 30, after which a second round of verification will identify omissions and rectify errors before finalising damage estimates.
“We can hope that within September 10, there will be a clear picture on the estimated loss and damage, or the total expenditure required to support flood-hit families,” the Chief Minister said.
A dedicated digital application has been developed to make the process more transparent and evidence‑based, Sarma said. “Concerned officers will upload images of the damages on a dedicated app. Thereafter an assessment will be made by August 30, followed by reverification with affected families,” he added.
District-level training camps for officials who will conduct the survey are due to begin from Saturday, the Chief Minister said, and the government expects a preliminary estimate of funds required from both the state and central governments by August 30, after which rehabilitation support measures will be planned.
Students whose schools are not yet fit to reopen will be accommodated in nearby institutions. The government has already sanctioned Rs 2 lakh each to 793 flood-affected schools for preliminary repair works.
On concerns over rising urban and artificial flooding in Jorhat, Sarma said the problem cannot be addressed by the government alone and requires public cooperation. “I am working on Guwahati’s flood problem since 2001. We construct drains, but they also need regular cleaning and maintenance. During cleaning drives, we often find plastic bottles and household waste clogging the drains,” he said.
While noting he was not fully familiar with Jorhat’s flooding pattern, Sarma said he had directed the district administration to examine the issue closely and take necessary steps to address the problem.
