ITANAGAR : Rajya Sabha MP Tai Tagak on Tuesday urged the Union Government to provide a special relief and rehabilitation package for flood-hit Arunachal Pradesh, saying the scale of devastation caused by recent flash floods and landslides is beyond the capacity of the state government to manage alone.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP state office in Vivek Vihar here, Tagak said the assistance is needed to strengthen ongoing relief operations, restore damaged infrastructure and support the long-term rehabilitation of affected communities.
He said he has been visiting flood-affected areas since July 4 to assess the ground situation. According to him, major damage has been reported from Keyi Panyor, the Siang belt, Kurung Kumey and Tirap districts, while nearly 15 districts have been severely affected by floods and landslides.
Tagak said the disaster has affected around one lakh people, causing extensive damage to roads, bridges, drinking water supply systems, power infrastructure and residential houses. Several remote areas remain cut off, resulting in shortages of food, drinking water and other essential commodities.
Referring to official reports, he said five people lost their lives in Keyi Panyor district and two in Tirap district, while more than seven persons remain missing. He expressed condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the safe return of those still unaccounted for.
The MP appreciated the efforts of local communities, volunteers, State Disaster Response Force personnel and district administrations for carrying out rescue and relief operations under challenging conditions. He also noted that wildlife had been severely affected by the floods.
Stressing the need for immediate restoration of connectivity, Tagak called for urgent repairs to damaged roads, bridges, drinking water supply systems and other critical infrastructure. He said several strategic roads, bridges and culverts in border areas had also suffered extensive damage, affecting infrastructure of national importance.
He said a special Central assistance package was essential not only for immediate relief but also for long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction, adding that close coordination between the Centre and the state government would be crucial for speedy recovery.
Tagak further said the issue would be raised during the forthcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning on July 20, while asserting that the Central Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the state government headed by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu stand with the people of the state during the crisis.
Describing the floods as one of the worst natural disasters to hit Arunachal Pradesh in recent years, he said the extent of destruction in several areas was unprecedented and comparable to the devastation caused by the 1950 earthquake.
Replying to questions from journalists, Tagak said the disaster was primarily triggered by natural factors, including cloudbursts and heavy landslides, and not by illegal earth cutting or road construction. He also maintained that dams had played a supportive role in regulating water flow and protecting downstream areas during the crisis, citing the Pare Hydroelectric Project as an example.
