Sikkim CM chairs high level meet, warns against hoarding of essential items, no tourist permits to Tsomgo and Nathula

Power and water supply lines in Pakyong, Singtam, and Dikchu to be restored immediately. All educational institutes under Mangan, Gangtok, Pakyong and Namchi districts will remain shut till further notice

Chief Minister Shri Prem Singh Tamang chaired a high level meeting today to assess the present situation with regard to the disaster, and to discuss further preventive and supportive action.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Shri VB Pathak, DGP, ACS Home, HoDs and Secretaries of concerned departments.

The Chief Secretary briefed the meeting about the steps being taken by the State Government in active coordination with the Army and all concerned agencies to undertake relief, rehabilitation and restoration works in all the affected areas.

The Chief Secretary also apprised the Chief Minister of the outcome of the National Crisis Management Committee meeting held last evening with the Cabinet Secretary and Secretaries of concerned Ministries of the Central Government, to discuss the status of the situation in Sikkim. He informed of the assistance that will be provided by the Central Government as per the request made in the meeting.

During the meeting, all aspects of the preparedness of the State were discussed in detail. Concerned HoDs and District Collectors briefed about the ground situation and the necessary assistance required.

Chief Minister Shri Prem Singh Tamang issued the following specific directives for immediate compliance: –

1. He urged the officers to work in coordination and devise a systematic mechanism for rescue, relief, rehabilitation and restoration.

2.To constitute a high level technical committee comprising subject experts, scientists, environmentalists, hydro power specialists, engineers, members of civil society, glaciologists, and dam experts to carry out a detailed study of the incident, and devise a concrete road map for the future.

3. Hoarding of essential items will be strictly monitored. Stringent action will be taken against those flouting the norms, including permanent cancellation of licence of defaulters.

4. Grievance Counters to take the complaints of affected people will be set up at Rangpo, Singtam and Mangan initially. Later such counters will also be set up in other areas.

5. Under the supervision of the Transport Department, identified goods vehicles carrying essential commodities will be provided subsidies to compensate for the excess distance. A district committee to be constituted to facilitate smooth movement.

6. Permits to tourist areas like Tsomgo, Baba Mandir and Nathula will be stopped from tomorrow.

7. People at the relief camps who are under any medication will be provided with medicines free of cost.

8. District Collectors to ensure that relief camps are spacious and comfortable.

9. A Relief Collection Centre each will be set up at Rangpo, Singtam, Chungthang and Namchi which will be manned by a designated officer/incharge.

10. To avoid crowding, only individuals identified by the district administration officials will be designated as volunteers at the Relief Collection Centres and the relief camps.

11. Any individual/ organisation/ NGOs /other agencies etc desirous of contributing relief in the form of cash can deposit in the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Any relief in kind will be received by the designated officer stationed at the Relief Collection Centres.

Details of CMRF:-

Account Name: Chief Minister Relief Fund, SISCO Bank

Account Number: 100134029100037

IFSC Code: IBKL0108SIC

12. Along with schools, all government and private colleges located under Mangan, Gangtok, Pakyong and Namchi districts will remain closed from tomorrow till further notice.

13. Electricity and water supply lines in Pakyong, Singtam, and Dikchu to be restored immediately.

14. In order to facilitate systematic flow of information and avoid rumours, a press note will be released from the office of the Chief Secretary every evening.

Also Read: Sikkim flash floods: 30 dead, search for 22 army personnel continues

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