Assam Flood Rehabilitation Bill May Cross Rs 1,000 Crore: CM Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said the state may require more than Rs 1,000 crore for repairing flood-damaged properties and rehabilitating people affected by the latest wave of floods, as the government steps up its assessment of losses.

Sarma said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured full assistance for the rehabilitation process and directed the state government to conduct a detailed assessment of the damage without leaving out any affected family.

“To give permanent relief” to the flood-hit population, the state launched a rapid relief assessment drive on August 9. An initial assessment of more than 8,000 families has estimated damage worth around Rs 150 crore, Sarma said at a press conference in Guwahati.

The assessment will continue until August 30 and is expected to cover between 50,000 and 60,000 families in Upper Assam districts that were among the worst affected by the latest deluge.

Based on the preliminary findings, Sarma said the overall expenditure on damage repair and rehabilitation could exceed Rs 1,000 crore. He added that the Prime Minister had assured the state that there would be no shortage of funds for compensating affected people.

The Chief Minister also acknowledged contributions from individuals and groups across the country. He said 72 YouTubers have raised funds for flood relief, with several already working on the ground. The state government, he said, is monitoring how the funds are being spent to ensure they reach flood-affected communities.

Meanwhile, the Assam government has released Rs 11.3 crore for rebuilding 494 flood-damaged Anganwadi centres across Upper Assam.

Sarma said restoring the centres quickly is a priority so that essential services can resume for local communities. Each damaged Anganwadi centre will receive up to Rs 2.5 lakh for reconstruction and restoration.

The rehabilitation exercise is expected to provide a clearer picture of the scale of losses once the ongoing assessment is completed later this month.