Flood relief gathers pace in Surat as survey teams begin damage assessment

Surat, July 10 (IANS) Surat district authorities have deployed 227 government officials and employees in 41 teams to carry out an immediate door-to-door survey of flood-affected areas across the city, with relief payments already reaching more than 1,100 people following heavy rainfall and flooding.
The exercise has been launched under the supervision of Surat District Collector Tejas Parmar to assess damage caused by creek flooding and waterlogging in different parts of the city.
The survey will cover cases involving loss of life, injuries and damage to movable and immovable property to facilitate the distribution of government assistance, including cash doles, household assistance and clothing aid.
The district administration has assigned 22 Class I and Class II officers to oversee the exercise, supported by Deputy Mamlatdars, Revenue Talatis, coordinators and other staff.
In total, 227 officers and employees from Class I, II and III services have been deployed in 41 survey teams, which have been instructed to begin work immediately in coordination with the Mamlatdars of their allotted talukas.
By 1 p.m. on Friday, cash doles amounting to Rs 11 lakh had been distributed to 701 affected residents in the Katargam, Puna, Majura, Abrama and Udhna areas.
Household assistance worth Rs 24.20 lakh had also been paid to 484 affected people, taking the total relief distributed to Rs 35.21 lakh for 1,185 beneficiaries.
The administration said assistance is being released as soon as surveys are completed.
In the Limbayat area, including Ratanjinagar and Mazda Park-1 and 2 societies, survey teams led by District Planning Officer Shital Mandaviya conducted assessments and distributed cash doles to eligible residents.
The administration has divided the survey work among several senior officers.
In the Puna area, five teams under the supervision of the District Education Officer and Education Inspector are conducting door-to-door surveys in Dhanjivalli Mohollo, Padar Faliya, Khadi Faliya and Pipla Faliya in Kumbhariya, as well as the New Colony in Saroli. Each team comprises five employees.
Another five teams, led by the Deputy Industries Commissioner and General Manager, have been assigned to survey Bawari Faliya and Brahman, Khari, Parsi and Bhut Faliyas in Saniya Hemad.
In the Majura area, four teams under Land Records Inspector D.M. Desai are surveying Ambedkarnagar, Rasulabad, Azadnagar and Indiranagar.
In Udhna, four teams under the District Planning Officer are surveying the Mithi Khadi area, including Islami Chowk, Raza Chowk, Azad Chowk, Bethi Colony, Patrani Chawl, Kantinagar, Phulwadi, Nure Ilahi Nagar, Kadiri Chowk, Mazda Park, Ratanjinagar and Bhedwad, as well as Meera Nagar, Ramkrishna Society, Bhavani Society, Halpativas and Rabarivas in the Godadara area.
Four additional teams under the Deputy Director (Developing Castes) are surveying Godadara, Dhirajnagar, Neelkanth Society, Swaminarayan Nagar, Patel Nagar, the Parvat area, Geetanagar, Halpativas, Khadi Faliya, the Udhna Industrial Association area and the Sanjay Nagar slum.
Three teams led by the Deputy Director of D.I.S.S. are surveying affected localities around Godadara, including Aaspaas Nagar, Astik Nagar, Kaushal Nagar, Kalakunj, Prakash Nagar, Gayatri Nagar, Priyanka Nagar and Dumbhal.
District Registrar Haresh Kachhad is overseeing five teams surveying extensive parts of the Puna area, including Simada, Sarthana and Nana Varachha, covering residential societies, commercial establishments and row house developments.
Two teams under the District Registrar (Housing) are surveying Khodiyar Nagar, Laxman Nagar, Kalyan Nagar, Laskana, Kathodara and Pasodara.
The Deputy Director of D.I.S.H. has deployed two teams in the affected areas of Majura taluka.
The district administration said additional personnel would be deployed if required to complete the survey and ensure relief reaches all eligible flood-affected residents.
–IANS
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