DC leads team on earthquake damage inspection around Namchi

ALL GREIVANCES WILL BE ADDRESSED, EVERY ASSISTANCE PROVIDED, DC ASSURES
NAMCHI, 21 Oct: District Collector [South], AK Singh, along with a Disaster Management team today visited areas around Namchi to verify the extent of damage caused by the 18 September Earthquake.
Briefing media-persons about the inspection, the DC informed that South District Administration, along with the disaster management team, visited Tiffin-Dara, Upper Tingrithang, Lower Tingrithang, Kholaghari and Chemchey where several families have been evacuated to safer locations. The visiting team found that many places in the villages had developed big cracks endangering settlements there.
The district administration has called on the Relief Commissioner to depute personnel to conduct soil-testing in the said areas. Families residing in unsafe houses have already been evacuated to relief camps.
He further informed that following directions received from the Chief Minister, and guided by State Government norms, the district administration has proposed relocation of affected families to safe alternate plots. With the approaching winters, the relief camps will not be adequate for the affected people. With this in mind, the administration has called on the Relief Commissioner to release GCI sheets and funds to construct more comfortable temporary shelters for families still residing in relief camps.
Releasing details about the earthquake relief disbused in the district thus far, the DC informed that the process was underway and confirmed that he had received complaints and grievances. The district administration has set 21, 22 and 23 October as dates to receive grievances from the people.
The DC has further invited people to submit their complaints and grievances to the BDOs, NMC, JNP within the first week of November. Similarly, a committee has been formed to verify the damages as claimed by the people in their complaints against the present exercise. The assisting team will include an AE and JE who will verify the damages and submit the final report. These reports will then be taken up by the respective BDOs and SDM who will verify the report and categorise the damages on the spot.
In this regard, the DC urged the people to have some patience and assured that the District administration will do everything possible to help and assist the people recover from the earthquake. He pointed out that the relief amount being offered by the Government of Sikkim was much higher than the Central Government relief norms and urged people to hold faith and cooperate with the administration in the process. All relief funds will be cleared within November and every single grievance will be addressed.
On the status of government infrastructure, a team led by the SE and DE will inspect government buildings and prepare a final report. He also informed that with the help of power project developers and HRD Department, the collapsed schools have been shifted to temporary sheds for now.