Patna: Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday visited flood-affected areas of Bihar on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and took stock of crop damage, relief measures and the overall situation on the ground.
Accompanied by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, state ministers and senior officials, Chouhan surveyed affected areas in Hajipur, Vaishali, Munger and Bhagalpur. He travelled by motorboat, country boat and tractor to reach inundated villages and agricultural fields and also conducted an aerial assessment.
Crops submerged for over 10 days
In Vaishali, Chouhan visited the flood-hit villages of Terasia and Saraipur and inspected inundated residential areas and farmland. In Munger, he visited the Nawagarhi relief camp and Kojikaraiya embankment, while in Bhagalpur he interacted with people staying at relief camps.
Chouhan said banana and maize crops had suffered extensive damage after remaining submerged for more than 10 days. According to information shared by the chief minister and local residents, water levels in some affected areas were nearly one foot higher than those recorded during the 2016 floods, he said.
He said nearly 50 lakh people had been directly affected, with several families displaced and reports of damage to houses and loss of livestock.
“Seeing farmers’ crops, on which they have invested their hard work and livelihood, submerged in floodwater is deeply painful. But farmers need not lose heart. The government is fully committed to protecting their livelihoods,” Chouhan said.
Relief measures reviewed
Chouhan reviewed the state government’s rescue and relief operations and said the administration was working round the clock.
The state has begun transferring Rs 7,000 through direct benefit transfer to the bank accounts of affected families, while medical teams are being sent by boat to provide treatment and medicines. Relief camps are also providing shelter, drinking water, dry rations and cooked food, officials said.
Central team to assess losses
Chouhan said the Centre would provide necessary support for relief, recovery and reconstruction. A detailed Inter-Ministerial Central Team will be sent to Bihar to assess damage to crops, houses, roads, bridges and livestock.
He said the Centre would consider financial and material assistance under the National Disaster Response Fund after receiving the state government’s proposal.
“I assure the people of Bihar, on behalf of the Central Government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that although the crisis is serious, our resolve to serve the people is stronger. No affected family will be left helpless,” Chouhan said.
A high-level review meeting was also scheduled at the chief minister’s residence in Patna to discuss relief distribution, healthcare, crop compensation and restoration of damaged infrastructure.