TURA, Oct 8 � Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma has mooted the idea for the formation of a village-level disaster management authority during a meeting with flood victims at Mahendraganj in South West Garo Hills.
�We have a National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), a State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and even one at the district level. So why not at the village level? It will definitely help if we could have one in every village to ensure better coordination as well as relief efforts�, said Mukul.
�The committee can keep a headcount of the number of residents in the village as well as act as relief distributors. They can coordinate with the Block Development Officer (BDO) and in turn with the District Administration�, added Sangma.
The State Government has been struggling to get the assessment of damages quickly documented. While most places have now been assessed, some still remain. With the date set on October 9-10 for a meeting in Delhi between the Union Ministry and the State Government, there is a mad rush to ensure documentation is completed. Initial flood damage assessment has already crossed the Rs 2000 crore mark.
