GOALPARA DISTRICT

GENERAL

1.                  District Profile:  The district of Goalpara is situated on the South bank of river Brahmaputra. The district covers an area  of 1,831 square kilometers and is bounded by Wst and East Garo Hill districts of Meghalaya on the South and Kamrup District on the East, Dhubri District on the West river Brahmaputra all along the North. The geographical location of the district is between latitude 25° 53’ N and longitude 90° 07’ and 91° 05’ E. The topography of Goalpara District is generally characterized by cultivable plains except for few low- forested hills. The main tributaries of the Brahmaputra River following through the district are Dudhnoi, Krishnai, Jinjiram, jinari and Deosila. The River are all perennial in nature. Natural lake such as Urpad Beel, Hasila Beel, Kumuri Beel and Dhamar Risan Beel exist in the district and several other artificial ponds are also seen. There are a number of reserve and proposed reserve forest in the district.

2.                  The climate in the district is moderate during the winter and in summers it is hot. Rain makes its first appearance in the month of April with occasional and irregular light showers and at times heavy downpour followed by cyclonic storm. The irregular rainfall continues up to the end of May. This rain occurs due to the influence of North-Eastern wind Monsson rain normally begins from the early part of June and heavy of very heavy rains occur in the district till the month of October. The maximum temperature  is 33 C during July and August and the minimum temperature dips down to 7 ° C in the month of January. About 80% rainfall is from South West monsoon.

3.                  The district is primarily agrarian as 90 % of the population depends for their livelihood on agriculture . The district is industrially backward and there are  no existing industries. It was a land locked district with poor transport and communication facilities till the opening of rail come road bridge, the Narnarayan Setu, over the River Brahmaputra. It is also expected that the proposed Industrial groth Centre at Matia (near Sainik School, Goalpara) will Give a boost to the development of industries in the district.

4.                  As per 2001 census, the total population of the district is 8,22,306. The density of population is 451 persons per square km. The district is the home of large number of different communities.

5.                  Flood Situation.:  Goalpara District experiences floods of moderate to severe intensity during the monsoon. Besides this, the flash flood witnessed by the district during October 2004 added a new dimension to the degree of devastation. The patterns of floods cannot truly be forecasted in spite of the well – organized warning system. It is, therefore, imperative that in order to ensure speedly and efficient rescue, relief and rehabilitation, a well-prepared master plan is formulated.

6.                  Objective:  The aim of this foood Relief Master Plan is to lay down comprehensive guidelines for conduct of relief operations in Goalpara District and make preparations in advanced to meet various contingencies that may arise.

BASIC DATA

 1.

            ·          Total villages in the district:-                                          854 Nos.

            ·          Total flood prone villages in the district:-                        421 Nos.

            ·          Total highly flood prone villages in the district:-  258 Nos.

            ·          Total area in the district:-                                               1824 Sq km.

            ·          Total probable food affected area in the district:-           958.14 Sq Mile.

            ·          Total population in the district:-                                     8,22,025

            ·          Total population in the probable flood affected area;-    4,54,667

            ·          Total crop area:-                                                           32,538 Hectares.

            ·          Total crop area in the probable flood affected area:-      18,269 Hectares.

            ·          Rainfall in Goalpara District in 4 (four) consecutive years from

                        2001-2004 is as follows

                                                2001…………..          1877 m.m.

                                                2002…………..          2424 m.m.

                                                2003………….           2905 m.m.

                                                2004…………            2950 m.m

2.                  Name of the Circle and Circle Officers

                               I.      Balijan Circle                            :           P.K. Bagawati, i/c

                            II.      Matia Circle                              :           D. Das, i/c

                         III.      Lakhipur Circle             :           B.M. Das, i/c

                          IV.      Dudhnoi Circle                          :           I. Hussain, i/c

                             V.      Rongjuli Circle                          :           S. Thakuria

  ·        Total number of Agriculture Development circles:- 12

  ·        Location of Public Health Centre : 1. Lakhipur, 2 Agia,3. Mornoi

                                                                        4. Matia, 5. Rongjuli, 6.Bahati

                                                                        7. Choibari, 8. Kharmuza,

                                                                        9. Dolguma, 10. Khutabari

                                                                        11. Tiplai

·          Location of Sub-Dispensary:-               1. Dhumerghat, 2. Chunari,

3.Ambari Bazar, 4. Baguan,

                                                                                    5. Harimura

            ·          Locan of Veterinary dispensary:-           1. Goalpara, 2. Matia,

                                                                                    3. Kotakuthi, 4. Kahibari

                                                                                    5. Rongjuli, 6. Krishnai,

                                                                                    7. Sessapani, 8. Dudhnoi,

                                                                                    9. Baida, 10. Bodahapur

                                                                                    11. Balijana. 12. Joyramkuchi

                                                                                    13. Ambari Bazar, 14. Jaleswar

                                                                                    15. Lakhipur.

DIVISION OF AREAS FOR RELIEF/RESCUE

           The whole district has been divided into some zones and again sub-diveded into some sectors. A Revenue circle area has been taken a whole zone. The zones will be headed by the respective Circle Officer and the sectors by the other Officers. The Matia Circle, Lakhipur Circle will have, however, additional zones.

5.      SALIENT GUIDELINES

1.      ALL OFFICERS/ STAFFS ARE TO REPORT FOR FLOOD DUTY  IN THE RESPECTIVE AREAS AS SOON AS FLOODS OCCUR. NOBODY SHALL WAIT FOR ORDERS FROM ANY QUARTERS.

2. Doctors will proceed to the affected area with medicines etc. and their whereabouts shall have to be known to the concerned Circle Officers/police station/police out posts as soon as floods occur.

3. G.R. etc. shall be made available in the affected areas as floods occur.

4. Rescue operation shall start whenever lives are threatened. Army/Para military forces have kindly consented to help and the help should be sought for by the respective sector Officers.

5. Veterinary doctors should have a cattle census report of villages with them. They will assess the actual loss of cattle lives during the flood. They will also asses the requirement  of cattle feed and place requisition to the Deputy Commissioner through D.V.O. They should also keep sufficient stock of medicines/vaccines etc.

6. Officers of the district, irrespective of the department and designation shall have to be present in the Head Quarters and available for duty as soon as floods occur. Incase of their absence from the Head Quarters prior to the occurrence of flood, they will have to return to the Head Quarters as soon as floods occur.

7. Ignorance of occurrence of floods shall not be an acceptable excuse for any Government functionary to dodge relief/rescue duties.

8. G.R. etc. provided by Government shall be distributed only by Government servants. Others may help help and guide, but cannot take responsibility of any stock

  DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ZONAL OFFICERS

(a)    The zonal Officers shall remain in close contact with their respective sector Officers. They will convey all decisions taken by Deputy Commissioner to the sector Officers immediately.

(b)   They should also liaise with the Circle level flood relief committee and concerned heads of Offices like medical ./ Vety./PHE/E&D etc

(c ) They shall confirm supply of sufficient copies of blank annexure –IV forms/boat requirement form and other relief materials, to their sector Officers.

(d)  They should visit all the sectors along with the sector Officer to gather prior knowledge of the area and suggest measures to the D.C. which need special attention only.

                 (e)   They will assist the S.O. (Sector Officers) to form the sector level flood relief committees. They

                         should also collect names of volunteers /NGO's 'to form relief & rescue parties.

                 (f)  The will prepare a mazmuli map showing (a) The sectors (b) The highly flood prone villages      

                       indicate in yellow & orange colours only.

                (g)  They will identify the proposed relief camps along with the sector officer and appoint the head of 

                       the institution as the relief camp in-charge, if necessary. ­

                (h)   They must keep on informing the flood situation formally in Annexure-IV and over telephone, 

                       etc.

                (i)     Survey & assessment of flood-affected areas shall be carried out only by authorized

                        by Govt. Officers. Any other agencies conducting similar exercise shall have to do

                        so at their own expenses.

7. DUTIES OF SECTOROFFICERS (S.O)

(a) The sector Officer will visit the respective areas at least 3-4 times and collect the basic data of his sector. He willassess the requirement of GR/other flood relief materials/POL for boats and submit the same to his concerned zonalofficer/Addl.zonal officer. .

(b) He will maintain register of GR etc/boat (both country & engine with capacity)/POL

Issued. etc.                                                                .

(c) He will collect the necessary annexure-IV/requirement forms etc from the relief branch, D.C.’s Office well ahead.

   (d) He will identify & arrange the relief camps & appoint in-charges of camps. Heads of

Institutions, where camps are established, should be the first option for appointing as

Camp in-charge.                             .

(e) He will ensure the fair & proper distribution of GR etc. and maintain the APRS simultaneously in duplicate. He will also contact, before the flood/during the flood the concerned officers of Medical/Vety/PHE/E&D/local police/Army & Para military forces and collect their address & telephone numbers.

(f) He will maintain a population register village-wise and do the exercise to divide the village population into adult & minor population, approximately to the nearest. He will identify the pin points for HTW installation forming user's committees immediately.

(g) He will identify all the roads/bridges/culverts, standing' crop areas/habitation structures, embankments, dykes and keep records of everything to report in Annexure ­        IV in time.

(h) He will form a sector level/flood relief committee in consultation with his zonal

Officer/addl. Zonal officer immediately with the following members.

1. Sector officer                              - CHAIRMAN

2. Secy of the nearest GP              - Secretary

3. Concerned Lot Mandals            - Members.

4. The President/V.P of the GPs   - Member.

5.The local VLEW, VFA, local head masters of school, active NGO’s, nearest

police station/out post personnel.    

He should keep all records properly & neatly and hand over the records to his zonal officer as soon as the flood relief operation is declared over.

(i)   In no case he should encourage any groups of peop any organization to proceed to DC's office or the CO's of ice. He shall have to sort out all problems judiciously on the spot. He should keep in touch with the circle level control room.

8. Villages, not included in any sectors will have to be looked after by the concerned CO's, if floods occur.

9. Medical/PHE/E&D/Vety/PWD(R)/Forest (T) departments should post one personnel in the DC's control room on rotation basis.

10. GR DISTRIBUTION

The ADC (Relief) will be responsible for procurement of GR' items/sanction of GR etc. on receipt of requisition. He will ensure the availability of foodstuff, S.K. Oil, POL other Relief items before hand.

He will be assisted by the following officer and staff.

(A)

Superintendent of F & CS branch and Inspector Sri. P. K. Bezbarua shall receive requisition of G.R. only. They will be assisted by Sri. Baidya Nath Sarkar, Sr. Assistant & Sri. Nikhil Prasad Roy, Sr. Asstt. F&CS, D.C's office.

(B)      Sri. S. Baidya, APO & Sri. B.B. Sing, JPO, P&D branch will receive requisition for relief items. They will assist by Barun Bhomick Sr. Asstt. Balijana Tahsil Office & Sri. Dhiren Kakoti, Jr. Asstt. Personnel Branchch. D.C;s Office, Goalpara

The Officers listed below will function as  despatch officers. They will

Keep close contact with the Addll Deputy Commissioner (Relief) and. relief branch. It will be their duty to ensure the transportation in the concerned cell and lifting of G.R. etc. from the godowns and handing over the same to the concerned Sector Officer/. Zonal Officer. .

1. Sri. Raju Prasad Bora, Asstt. Manager, O/O General Manager, District Industry Center and Sri Beraj Kr. Rabha, Supdt. of Industry Goalpara (TCPC) General Manager, District Industry Center for Balijana circle. .

2. Sri. Debojit Deuri , Asstt, Manager, O/O DI&CC for Rangjuli & Dudhnoi. Sri Enayat Hussain, Asstt. Manager, DICC and

3. Sri. Dhireswar Kachari and Janak Kalita Supdt. Industries Centre for Matia Circle.

The following persons will remain present in the godowns. They will be contacted by the dispatching officer and will assist them in lifting the G.R. etc. properly. The names of the godowns will be intimated to them in due course of time.

1. Nibaran Das, JE, Agril.O/O.TheDistrict Agriculture Officer, Goalpara.

3. SameerMazumdar,ATO,Agril.O/O. TheDistrict AgricultureOfficer, Goalpara.

4. Gagat Nath, T.O., O/O The District Agriculture Officer, Goalpara.

5. Arup Das, T.O  , .0/0. The District Agriculture Officer, Goalpara

6. Mahendra Das, T.O., O/O. The District Agriculture Officer,

7. Kantiram Barman, T.O. .O/O. The District Agriculture Officer,

8. Kameswar Choudhury, T.O. O/O. The District Agriculture Officer,

9. ToslimAli, A.T.O.O/O. The District Agriculture Officer, Goalpara.

The despatch officer will keep the following records.

1. Vehicle No.

2. Name of the driver

3. Name of the S.O of his representative

4. Quantity of G.R. date .of despatch

5. Sanction No. & date of G.R.

6. Time of dispatch.

    Where necessary the Dispatch officer will deliver the G.R. at the river ghats.

11.       TRANSPORTATION :­-

 The Nazrat Officer, will look after the transportation facilities. He will assess the requirement of HMV/LMV etc. and requisition accordingly. This. cell will keep ready one  machine propelled boat at the dist headquarters all along POL/log sheets shall be maintained  by relief branch..                                                                                      .             . .                        . .

12. CARCASS!DISPOSAL :-

                     A team for disposal of carcasses is constituted with the following members.

                            1. Block Development Officer, Balijana.

    2. District Veterinary Officer and his staff.

    3. Asstt. Engineer, Municipal board, Goalpara.,

13.   INQUEST & POST MORTEM:

 lnquest of dead bodies where necessary will have to be carried out by the concern  Circle  Officers. The Joint Director, Health Services, will be responsible for the Post Mortem works as quickly as possible.            .          

l4.  Market prices control during the flood shall be monitored by the Food &Civil

Suplies, Branch D.C's office. Goalpara.

15.The Fishery department shall ensure that there is no sale of stale /contaminated fish in the  markets. The DIPRO, Goalpara shall make the necessary arrangement for wide publicity in such cases.

The following essential materials will be supplied to the  Circle Officers at the very initial stage of flood.

1.Torch Light                                              1(one) No.

2. Hurricane                                         Lamp- 5 (five) Nos.

3. S.K Oil                                            50 (fifty) liters. (To supplied by F&C )

4. Poly sheets                                       300 (Three hundred) sheets of size 15

 feet x 12 feet   ­

5. Plastic rope                                      1 (one) coil.                             

6. Contingency amount

7. Packet of chlorine /Bleaching 300 (Three hundred )Pkts.

                                                                        (To be provided by PHE)

8. Empty gunny bags.                           1000 (one thousand) bags.

(to be supplied by concerned BDO’s)

9. Requisition from for G.R./Boat/Vehicle

10. Annexure                                       IV Forms

11. Signed appointment letters for camp in charge.

17.       Control room at Deputy Commissioner's bunglow office with phone No. 240028.

The following officers are engaged for control room duty at Deputy Commissioner's bunglow office.

1.      Shri B.Sarmah,DFO(SF),Goalpara.           

2.      Shri Z. A. Hazarika,Executive Enginner, PWD (R),Goalpara.

3.      Shri. Utpal Choudhary, Executive Enginner, DRDA.

4.      Shri V.K.Bansal, DFO (T), Goalpara.

18. A district level flood control room shall be setup in Deputy Commissioner's office, Goalpara will the following official with phone No.240167
    1. Shri S.Talukdar,S.D.O (Sadar) - Incharge of the control room
    2. .Mrs. Atrayee Goswami, E.A.C, DC's office,Goalpara.
    3. .Representative of E.E,E & D, Goalpara.
    4. The Asstt. Ex. Engineer, irrigation, Goalpara Divn.
    5. The Executive Engineer, PWD (B), Goalpara Divn.
    6. .Representative from Forest Department, Goalpara.
    7. .Representative from PHE, Division, Goalpara.
    8. Thee Asstt. Director, Sericulture, Goalpara.
    9. .Representative from Army, CRPF & BSF.
    10. .The Asstt. Director, Handloom & Textile, Goalpara.
    11.  The Deputy Director, Town & Country Planning, Goalpara.

Dr. Rajib Dutta Choudhary, DistIict  Project Officer, DRMP, Goalpara. He

Will be responsible for collection, submission of all report received in the control

room & daily sitrep sent to the Government.

APPRECIATION OF FLOOD PRONE AREAS IN

GOALPARA DISTRICT

7.Vulnerable Areas. The low lying areas along River Brahmaputra and the area adjacent to the beels are prone to floods during monsoons. However, the phenomenon ( flash floods experienced during October 2004 also suggests that likely hood of similar nature cannot be ruled out. The areas adjoining Rivers originating from the Garo Hills are prone to sudden inundation due to flash floods. Flood prone areas of Goalpara District are shown 0 the Sketch 'P' attached as an Appendix.

8. Flood Prone Areas. The flood prone areas identified in Goalpara. District

are as follows:             '

(a)       Matia Area (Tiplai, Simlitola, Damanpara, Medhipara, Buddha Char

           Rajar Char, Dalgoma, Majher Char, Kadamtola Char).

(b)       Mornai Area (Dubapara, Singimari, Benganbhita , Bahati Char Pakhiura).

(c)       Dudhnai Area (Bamunpara, Nayapara, Karipara, Bakaitari)

(d)       Karbala Area (Near HasilaBeel).

(e)       Kharmuza Area (Kharmuza, Kaljani, Rakhaldubi, Joypur, Sonahar!

           Taparvita, Balarvita)

(f)        Chunari Area (Bowratol, Sonalurtol,Dampara,Chilarvita fetengapara).

(g)       Jaleswar Area (Jaleswar, Beldubi)

(h)       Balbola Area (Balijana,  Dalak,  Bhimajuli, Khagrabari, Godarbar, Chandmari, Nalipara, Bengdup, Goalpariagaon, Kokira, Khalisamari)

9. Population in each Revenue Circle.                 Based on the population residing in each

venue circle, the quantum of population affected by the floods in the district can be   estimated. This will also assist in priortising the flood prone area and the relief operations.

    The population residing  in each revenue circle, as per 2001 census, is as follows:­-