By IANS,
New Delhi : Besides the 128 human lives lost in the floods in Assam, over 6,000 cattle perished while 4.5 lakh houses were destroyed and more than 3,000 km of roads damaged, it was stated Wednesday.
Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran, answering questions in the Rajya Sabha on the Assam floods, said that 1,252 bridges, culverts and wooden bridges were also washed away and 11.50 km of embankments were damaged.
He said following the visit by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Assam, the central government released Rs.500 crore to the state government for undertaking relief measures.
An inter-ministerial central team also visited the affected areas July 10-12 for on-the-spot assessment of damages caused by the floods. “The report of the team is being processed for placing before an inter-ministerial group and high level committee for consideration,” he said in a written answer.
To a question whether the central government has announced a package for the flood-hit areas and for rehabilitation of the displaced people, Ramachandran said: “It is required to be undertaken by the concerned state government from its own resources/plan funds.”
The money released by the government is for relief to help the people start their economic activities again and not for compensation of loss, he said in answer to another question.