Guwahati, Oct 12: The Assam government has completed three rounds of surveys covering 57,000 flood-affected families in Upper Assam, with compensation estimated at around Rs 1,100 crore.
“Within two to three days, we will send the proposal to the Centre, and I think we will receive the funds soon,” Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said at a press briefing in Chopaidong, Guwahati, on Monday.
Sarma added that if the Centre delays releasing the funds, the state government would disburse the compensation in phases.
He said eligible families have already been informed of the compensation amounts they would receive.
“We conducted the survey using tablets and showed the results to the families after the survey, informing them how much they would receive,” he said.
Responding to Raijor Dal leader Akhil Gogoi’s demand for compensation for two lakh families, Sarma disputed the figure, claiming the floods had not affected that many families.
“We had disconnected electricity to the homes of only 1.3 lakh people, so how did he arrive at the figure of two lakh families? He wants to turn this into a political activity and do politics in the name of the affected families,” Sarma said.
He said the Rs 10,000 payment was only interim assistance and that the government intends to provide full compensation to eligible families.
“Those affected will receive compensation, but those who have not been affected by the deluge will not. He (Gogoi) wants to politicise the issue by bringing together people who will not receive compensation,” he said.
The Chief Minister also criticised Gogoi for staging protests over the issue, citing previous floods in Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Bokakhat and Lower Assam and claiming that political leaders had not taken similar steps at the time.
“He wants to do things that will get him cheap publicity. If we keep thinking about him, the people of Assam will go backwards,” Sarma added.
Meanwhile, Raijor Dal staged another protest outside the Ministers’ Quarters in Dispur on Monday, demanding compensation for flood-affected people in three Upper Assam districts.
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets, raising slogans, including “Inquilab Zindabad”, and calling for compensation for those affected by the floods.
“We had to stage a protest because Assam has been destroyed by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. We need compensation,” a protester said.
Meanwhile, Gogoi’s sit-in at the Assembly premises in Dispur, demanding compensation for flood-affected people in Upper Assam, entered its 11th day on Monday.