Rajya Sabha Member Tai Tagak recently visited flood-hit areas in East Siang and Lower Siang districts to assess the losses caused by the recent flash floods and erosions. Tagak was accompanied by Pasighat West MLA Ninong Ering, Nari-Koyu MLA Tojir Kadu, PRI leaders, and government officials during his visit to Mirem, Bilat, Ledum, and Korang villages in East Siang and Tene in Lower Siang district.
The MP assured the villagers that he would take up their problems with the state and central governments. He also visited the RCC bridge over Rema Korong that was damaged by flash floods and inspected flood protection works along the Peneng river to review its progress. ZPMs and gram chairpersons informed the MP that overflowing water of the Sille river and other streams washed away roads and bridges, culverts, water supply pipelines, and standing crops, besides damaging several fishponds, farms, horticulture gardens, and other public infrastructures.
MLA Ering requested Tagak to take necessary initiatives for early sanctioning of FDR schemes to compensate for disaster damages and renovation of public infrastructures. Tagak is scheduled to visit flood-hit sites in the Bogong Banggo and Bosing Banggo areas of Pasighat. A six-member inter-ministerial central team, led by Home Ministry’s Joint Secretary (IS-II) Nishtha Tiwari, visited the flood-ravaged areas in Ledum, Bilat, and Korang villages in East Siang district on 9 July.
The central government officials heard the grievances of the affected families and assured them of adequate relief and rehabilitation measures through central assistance. Prior to the central team’s visit, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijuju and Minister of Agriculture Shivraj Sing Chouhan took stock of the disaster damages caused by the recent flash floods.
In a separate development, Nilling Circle ZPM Sumila Ekke Nilling, accompanied by PRI leaders, visited the flood-affected Nio Koro to assess the damages caused by the devastating cloudburst that struck the area in Upper Subansiri district on 21 May. The panchayat leaders stated that the cloudburst triggered a massive flash flood in Nio Koro, washing away the cement concrete bridge, destroying horticultural and agricultural fields, damaging fish ponds, and killing several domestic animals.
The disaster disrupted connectivity, leaving more than 3,500 people from at least 10 villages severely affected and cut off from essential services and modern amenities. Former ZPM Takam Rikung expressed concern over the government’s delayed response, stating that despite nearly three months having passed since the disaster, no immediate relief or restoration measures have reached the affected villagers.
ZPM Nilling said the destruction of the bridge has caused immense hardship for villagers, who are struggling to transport essential commodities across the flooded stream. She informed that local residents have constructed a temporary bamboo and wooden footbridge to carry food and other necessities by head load, but the arrangement remains unsafe and inadequate.
