Appeal to people residing in flood affected areas to go to safer places due to devastating floods: Harjot Singh Bains

The Fact News Service

Chandigarh, September 4

Punjab Government under the visionary leadership of Bhagwant Singh Mann is working round the clock to provide relief and assistance to the flood-affected persons and reach out the last mile in this hour of natural calamity. All Cabinet Ministers of the State are reaching out to various villages and flood-affected areas to provide relief materials and assistance to the people. Cabinet Ministers personally visited the vulnerable areas to strengthen the embankment of the rivers.

Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday called upon the Government of India to demonstrate the same humanitarian spirit towards Punjab as it has shown in extending aid to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. He questioned the Union Government’s priorities, asking why relief materials were swiftly dispatched to Afghanistan, while flood-affected Punjab is facing delays in receiving financial and humanitarian assistance.

The Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema emphasised that Punjab, a state that has consistently contributed to the nation’s food security and economic strength, deserves timely and adequate assistance in its hour of need. “If humanitarian aid can be sent across borders, then why the hesitation in helping our own people?” he questioned.
He reiterated the Punjab Government’s commitment to opt every measure in providing relief to flood-ravaged people.

The Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Forest & Wildlife Preservation Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak today took stock of the temporary Bandh being constructed at Koliyan Adda, which suffered severe damage due to overflowing Ravi river, near Kathlour bridge in Bhoa constituency district Pathankot. He said that our Government is providing relief material to the flood affected people besides ensuring fodder for the animals.

Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains visited Mojowal, Bela Dhiani Upper, Bela Dhiani Gujjar Basti villages situated in Sri Anandpur Sahib district to review flood arrangements and appealed to the people to go to higher places so that their precious life can be saved. He appealed to some villages of Nangal and Sri Anandpur Sahib to vacate their homes and go to higher places or relief camps.

He also visited Lakshmi Narayan Mandir where some areas of the temple were damaged. He requested the people to shift to safer areas. He also appealed to residents of low-lying areas to shift to designated shelters, urged people not to believe in rumours, and prayed for the safety and well-being of all sections of society.

Punjab Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian, accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain and Commissioner of Police, inspected the Dhussi Bandh near Sasrali Colony in Ludhiana district. The Minister, along with the DC, CP, Army personnel and hundreds of area residents, worked tirelessly on-site to strengthen the embankment. He reviewed the condition of the bandh and directed officials to ensure its timely reinforcement so that people living in low-lying areas remain safe from any potential flood threat. He reaffirmed that the state government is fully committed to protect lives and property through proactive measures and close coordination with all agencies.

Meanwhile, Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal visited the embankments of the Ghaggar River in Lehra Gaga constituency to review the situation. He supervised the placement of sandbags along the vulnerable stretches of the riverbanks. The Minister also inspected several adjoining areas including Makror Sahib, Mandvi, Chandu, Anndana, Khanauri and other localities situated along the Ghaggar River.

Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond has dispatched a second truck of relief material to help flood-affected border villages of Fazilka district from Khanna.

Punjab Cabinet Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar today opened a temporary relief camp in village Bhaowal of his assembly constituency Patti, where the relief material brought in the form of service by the people will be distributed among the needy within a radius of 30-35 kilometers.

He said that anyone who wants to fill his tractor with diesel for filling soil on the embankment. Diesel will be given to them from this relief camp. He said that the needy residing near this relief camp can get groceries items, fodder for animals etc. from this relief camp.

Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh E. T. O. accompanied by Member Rajya Sabha Sanjay Singh and MLA Mr. Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal today visited the villages at Halqa Ajnala near Ramdas and distributed relief materials to the flood victims at village Nisoko.

Punjab Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the state government is not allowing any shortage of funds for relief work in the flood-affected areas. She said that another tranche of worth Rs 3.5 crore has been released for Fazilka district, while Rs 1.5 crore has been released earlier for flood relief. Therefore, a total of Rs 5 crore has been given for relief work in Fazilka district. She also gave Rs 3 lakh from her discretionary quota for the purchase of boats. She said that ration, cattle feed for animals and other basic items are being provided to the affected families in the relief camps.

MLA Moga Dr. Amandeep Kaur Arora today sent relief materials like rice, ration kits etc. from Moga to the needy people in the flood affected areas of Ferozepur.

Deputy Commissioner Fazilka Amarpreet Kaur Sandhu said that 3032 people have been evacuated from the affected areas so far. The number of affected villages has increased to 37 and 1937 people are living in relief camps. She added that 7585 ration kits have been distributed and 4298 bags of cattle feed have been distributed so far.

Deputy Commissioner Bathinda Rajesh Dhiman flagged off a vehicle carrying 6,000 juice packets for the people of the flood-affected area.