DIMAPUR, Sept 5 - A five-member inter-ministerial Central team is in Nagaland on a four-day visit to assess the damage caused by the recent floods and landslides in the State. The team will be in the State till Friday.
The team, headed by the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, today visited the Ralan and Bhandari areas in Wokha district to assess the flood damage. Later, the team took stock of the situation in the aftermath of the major landslides in and around Kohima district.
Other members of the Central team are the Director in charge of the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Kolkata, Dr K Manohoran; consultant, Department of Expenditure, RB Kaul; an official from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway, Guwahati, Anirban Acharya; and another official from the Department of Rural Development, Chahat Singh.
Officials of the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority, along with those of the district disaster management authorities and all the line departments, are accompanying the team to the worst-affected areas.
After their arrival here on Tuesday, the Central officials visited the Niuland subdivision under Dimapur district and interacted with the flood-affected farmers of Niuland and bordering villages.
On the way to Niuland, the team inspected the site near the Balijan bridge that has been completely washed away. It also visited Yeveto village to take stock of the damage caused to plantation and crops due to the change of river course.
Dimapur Deputy Commissioner Sushil Kumar Patel briefed the Central team on the extent of the damage in the district.
On August 4, Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, accompanied by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and senior Central and State Government officials, made an aerial survey of some of the flood and landslide-affected areas in the State. Rijiju had then assured to send a Central team to assess the damage caused by floods and landslides following unprecedented rains.
