Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan arrived in Arunachal Pradesh on Monday, but was unable to undertake the scheduled aerial survey because of inclement weather. He will now carry out an extensive ground and aerial inspection of the flood-affected areas of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam on July 1, spending the entire day assessing the situation of affected farmers and other families, reviewing the extent of the damage firsthand and identifying the measures required to provide immediate relief and long-term assistance. Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Pema Khandu will accompany him during the visit.
After reaching Arunachal Pradesh on Monday afternoon, Shri Chouhan met local residents face-to-face and listened to their grievances. He said that although adverse weather had prevented the helicopter from taking off, it had not weakened the government’s resolve. “The weather may have grounded the helicopter today, but it cannot stop our determination. Tomorrow, we will spend the entire day in the flood-affected regions of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, assessing the situation from the ground as well as from the air so that every affected farmer and every affected family receives the assistance they need,” he said.
Shri Chouhan travelled from Delhi to Itanagar, where he first interacted with residents and public representatives from flood-hit areas. People narrated how floodwaters had submerged their agricultural fields, destroyed standing crops, damaged homes and disrupted their livelihoods. Many spoke about the extensive losses suffered by their families and the hardships they continued to face. The Union Minister listened carefully to every representation and assured them that no affected family would be left behind in the relief and rehabilitation process. He reiterated that every effort would be made to ensure that government assistance reached all those who had suffered losses.
At a review meeting held at the Itanagar Secretariat with senior officials of the Arunachal Pradesh government, Shri Chouhan discussed the prevailing flood situation, the availability and distribution of relief materials, ongoing rehabilitation measures and the future course of action. He reviewed the damage caused by the floods, the progress of relief operations and the challenges that remained in reaching affected communities. He said the concerns of farmers and rural residents in the Northeast had reached the highest levels of the government in New Delhi and assured officials that, under the leadership and guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Central Government stood ready to extend every possible assistance required for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
Shri Chouhan said an intensive inspection of flood-affected areas in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam would be undertaken on July 1. Beginning Tuesday morning, he will visit flood-hit villages and relief camps across Arunachal Pradesh to interact directly with affected residents. He will personally assess the damage to agricultural fields, evaluate the condition of livestock and examine the overall impact of the floods on the daily lives and livelihoods of people. He will also conduct an aerial survey of flood-affected areas across Arunachal Pradesh and Assam to review the condition of rivers, embankments, roads, bridges and agricultural land and to obtain a comprehensive assessment of the damage. Later in the evening, he will chair a review meeting in Guwahati with senior officials of the Assam government to discuss flood management, relief distribution, repair of embankments and roads, restoration of damaged infrastructure and financial assistance for affected farmers.
The Union Minister stressed that while immediate relief for affected people remained the top priority, equal attention must also be given to preparing long-term strategies that would reduce the impact of floods in the future. He said better drainage systems, stronger embankments, safer shelters, improved flood-management infrastructure and a more effective crop insurance mechanism were essential to minimise losses during future floods and to strengthen the resilience of rural communities.
Shri Chouhan appealed to the flood-affected people of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam to remain courageous during this difficult period. He assured them that the Central Government and the respective state governments would work in close coordination and take every necessary step to help them overcome the crisis. He said every possible effort would be made to ensure timely relief, rehabilitation and restoration of normal life in the affected regions.
Speaking to the media, Shri Shivraj Chouhan said Arunachal Pradesh was “a beloved state”, but was currently facing an extremely serious crisis because of a devastating natural disaster. Heavy rainfall and landslides had damaged roads, bridges and numerous houses, resulting in extensive losses to the people. Farmers had suffered severe setbacks, with crops such as oranges, bananas and paddy being completely destroyed. “Shri Kiren Rijiju and I have come here, along with the Chief Minister, on the directions of the Prime Minister to visit the affected areas. We will undertake a detailed assessment of the damage and ensure every possible assistance from the Central Government,” he said. Shri Chouhan added that no effort would be spared in helping people through this difficult period. He said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister, the government would work with its full strength to help the state recover from the disaster, restore normalcy at the earliest and ensure that all affected families receive the support they require.
