Govt to give Rs 6,000 to each flood-hit family in Bihar: CM Nitish Kumar

KATIHAR/PATNA: CM Nitish Kumar on Wednesday conducted an aerial survey of flood-affected areas in Katihar and Purnia and inspected the relief camps in the two districts.
“After assessing the crop damages, the state government will provide financial assistance to the affected farmers. Right now, we are giving financial assistance of Rs6,000 to each flood-affected family,” Nitish said. “Our priority is to keep flood-affected people safe during the pandemic. Apart from arranging food for them, vaccination and testing for Coronavirus is being done simultaneously. If a single person is found Covid positive at the flood relief camps, several others will get infected. We are running medical check-up camps for other illnesses also,” Nitish said.
Accompanied by deputy CM Tarkishore Prasad, Nitish inspected the arrangements at the B M College ground in Laxmipur under Barari block of Katihar district and at the Buniyadi high school in Sapha under Rupauli block of Purnia district.
The CM also inquired about the medical facilities for the pregnant women, alternative arrangements for children, vaccination and free medicine distribution at the camps besides arrangements at the community kitchens for the flood-hit families.
“We get first-hand experience of the affected areas by visiting there personally and taking the feedback from the people. We get to know about their problems. The administration is running community kitchens at several places,” he said.
On the river siltation and its management, the CM said, “We are working for its permanent solution. We keep on interacting with people and hold discussions, but cannot claim that everything will be safe and secure. Occasionally, we see the rise in the Ganga water level. Water from other rivers join the Ganga and the scope of its outflow is minimal. That’s why we are facing a tough situation this year. But, we will definitely find a solution for some areas of the state.”
On his return to the state capital, Nitish said, “I conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas in Katihar and Purnia. There has been a sharp rise in the water level of Ganga this year, which has caused damages at several places in the two districts.”
When asked whether he would seek financial help from the Centre against the damages caused by the floods, Nitish said the state government always makes such demands from the Centre. He also said the state government has made a policy since 2007 to provide relief to the flood-affected people. “We keep improving that policy every year and also made necessary arrangements for cattle,” Nitish said.