ITANAGAR, Sep 22: In the wake of the devastating floods in Leparada district, Galo bodies have urged the state government to rehabilitate those affected and to restore connectivity on war footing.

The Galo Welfare Society (GWS) while expressing solidarity with the flood victims of Ego Valley has demanded constitution of a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to investigate the cause of inordinate delay in execution of the 2-lane Akajan-Likabali-Bam road under various SARDP packages.

In a press release issued on Tuesday, GWS on behalf of the Galo community has extended solidarity with the flood-affected victims of Ego camp, Padi, Dali and Chisi villages under Dari Circle in Leparada district. Expressing gratitude to the state government for providing ex-gratia relief to the bereaved family members who lost their loved ones in the disaster, the Society has also appealed for adequate relief and rehabilitation packages as compensation to the affected families. 

GWS President Er. Tanga Kena in his solidarity message to the flood affected victims offered condolences to the families of Late Bato Doye and Purna Bahadur Thakuria who died on the fateful day of September 17. “Our immediate concern is to ensure that the affected people are rehabilitated with access to all basic necessities including food, water, shelter, electricity and medicines,” his message read.

Highlighting the massive damages caused to the Ego RCC bridge that connects Lower Siang with Leparada, West Siang, Shi-Yomi and Upper Subansiri districts that has further resulted in a total halt of defence movements to Army Hq and forward areas like Basar, Aalo, Mechuka, Borarupok, Nacho, Limeking and Taksing, the GWS has appealed to the Central and State governments to immediately restore road communication. It has suggested immediate clearance of all blockages and construction of a temporary Bailey bridge across Ego river in the interest of affected people of the above districts and national security. 

While urging the State government to constitute a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to probe the cause of inordinate delay in execution of the 2-lane Akajan-Likabali-Bam road, the Society has also urged the State government to direct the executing agency to complete the project immediately. “The inordinate delay in completion of this strategic road project has adversely affected the commuters of the five districts of central Arunachal as well as movement of defence personnel, machineries and artilleries to the outposts along the sensitive McMahon line,” the GWS said. 

Sharing similar sentiments, the Galo Youth Organization (GYO) has also urged the Executive Director, National Highway and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to clear the road blockades between Likabali and Bam and rebuild the bridge over the Ego River. 

Also citing a case in which a girl in urgent need of medical attention died en route to Pasighat due to road and transportation problems, the GYO asserted that if the road and bridge are not restored in time, such cases may reoccur.

Drawing attention to the major damages caused to the tunnels of Dali Hydel which has consequently affected the region’s power supply severely, GWS has appealed the State to restore the plant’s functioning on a war footing. 

GWS has further appealed to all the well-wishers of the community to voluntarily donate cash or kind for rehabilitation of flood-affected families. GWS PR