The Hindu Business Line : Team arrives in Sikkim to assess rain damage

Landslides have killed and injured a number of people and damaged houses and property across the State. National Highway 31A, the main road linking Sikkim to the rest of the country, was also cut off in many places.

The six-member team is led by, Mr R.P. Nath, Joint Secretary (administration) in the Ministry of Home Affairs, and had representatives from the Planning Commission, the finance ministry as well as departments of land resources, road transport and drinking water supply.

The team met officials of the Sikkim Roads and Bridges Department who made a presentation on the current situation in the State. The team, in three small groups, will tour all the four districts of the State.

In September, the Sikkim Chief Minister, Mr Pawan Chamling, had requested the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, to send a Central team to the State.

The Chief Secretary, Mr N.D. Chingapa, followed it up by meeting officials of the Prime Minister’s Office and the cabinet secretariat later.

In October, the State Government submitted a memorandum to the central relief commissioner in the Ministry of Home Affairs.

It included a damage assessment made by the state land revenue and disaster management department.

Damage assessment

According to this assessment, the total damage in the State caused by the rains this year was Rs 94.41 crore. This does not include damage to NH31A, which is being assessed independently by the National Highways Authority of India and the Border Roads Organisation, which maintains it.

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