Speechless Sonia listens - Dont worry, UPA chairperson tells
flood-hit
RIPUNJOY DAS Dhemaji, Aug. 7: Sonia Gandhi would like Dhemaji to
believe it has nothing to worry about, never mind the scenes of devastation she
saw for herself today.
Aap logo ke liye saab kuch kiya ja raha hai, chinta ki koi karan nahin hai
(everything is being done for you, there is no reason to worry), she told the
flood of faces that gaped at her during the 10 minutes she spent with them.
Moments earlier, a tearful Kanmai Handique had beseeched Sonia to look at her
and other flood victims from a womans perspective.
Amar ghar duwar sab bane loi gol, apuni mohila, amar karone kiba eta korok
(we lost everything to the floodwaters; you are a woman and you will understand
our pain better, please do something for us), Kanmai, a resident of
Bhakatgaon, said.
Sonamani Phukon, also from Bhakatgaon, requested Sonia with folded hands to
rebuild the house that she lost.
The UPA chairperson may not have been expecting anything different, but
Kanmai and Sonamanis pleas seemed to leave her speechless for a moment.
She nodded before turning to the group of officials hovering around her for
an update on flood relief operations. Sonia told the residents that she
insisted on making the trip to Dhemaji because she wanted to see for herself
what they were going through.
Sonia and the rest of the team Union home minister Shivraj Patil, AICC
leaders Digvijay Singh and Chandan Bagchi, chief minister Tarun Gogoi, flood
control minister Bharat Narah and senior bureaucrats reached Dhemaji on two
Indian Air Force helicopters at exactly 10.10am.
Deputy commissioner Diwakar Misras PowerPoint presentation on the relief
work done so far impressed the central delegation. The biggest challenge
before us is the rehabilitation of the 1,000-odd families in Gogamukh circle.
They lost all their belongings in the floods, he said.
The administration has estimated that floods damaged around Rs 500crore worth
of government and public property. Dhemajis woes began with a flash flood on
July 12, the reason for which was initially suspected to be release of water
from the Ranganadi dam. Neepco promptly refuted the allegation.
After hearing the personal accounts of flood victims and the district
administrations briefing on relief measures, Sonia asked Gogoi to maintain the
relief camps for a longer period and continue distributing food among the
inmates.
The chief minister said a comprehensive rehabilitation package was being
worked out for the families who lost everything they had in the floods.
There was pandemonium in the Assembly yesterday when the Speaker refused to
suspend Question Hour for a discussion on anomalies in flood relief operations.
An AGP member was banished from the days proceedings when he became overly
aggressive.
Liaqat Ali was seeking an explanation for police firing on flood victims in
his constituency, Chenga in Barpeta district.
(The Telegraph,08.08.2007)
---------------------------------
DELETE button is history. Unlimited mail storage is just a click away._______________________________________________
assam mailing list
[email protected]
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
