Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday said that in view of the escalating situation on the Indo-Pak border, the entire State administration has been fully geared up to face any unforeseen eventuality arising out of the prevailing circumstances.
Badal, addressing the media immediately after a specially-convened Cabinet meeting to take stock of the prevalent situation, said that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had already directed the Punjab Government to evacuate civilian population from villages falling within 10 kilometres from the international border in six districts — Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Fazilka.
“The State Government has already deputed six senior IAS officers, one each in border district, to coordinate and oversee the evacuation operations,” said Badal.
As per orders, R Venkatratnam has been deputed at Ferozepur, A Venuprasad at Fazilka, SR ladhar at Pathankot, Vivek Pratap Singh at Gurdaspur, KS Pannu at Amritsar and HS Nanda at Tarn Taran.
Badal apprised that he had personally spoken to the Ministers and MlAs of these areas telephonically to be present in their areas and extend all necessary assistance to minimize the discomfort of civilian population.
"As many as 60 villages in Fazilka, 300 in Ferozepur, 135 in Tarn Taran, 137 in Amritsar, 290 villages in Gurdaspur and 65 villages in Pathankot have been affected," he said.
People were mostly moving to their relatives and friends besides the evacuation camps being set up in schools, community centers, marriage palaces and other premises, added Badal.
The Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, who also hold the portfolio as Home Minister, were keeping a close watch on the entire situation.
"I had a detailed meeting with the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police in the morning and issued necessary instructions to them to tackle the emergent situation efficaciously" said Badal.
BOX: CS HElD EMERGENCY MEETING OF STATE lEVEl DISASTER RESPONSE COMMITTEE
Chief Secretary Sarvesh Kaushal also had an emergency meeting of the state-level Disaster Response Committee in the afternoon which was attended by ACS (Home), ACS (Agriculture), ACS School Education, the DGP, Principal Secretary Health, Secretary PWD, Secretary Irrigation, Secretary Public Health, DGP (law and order), IG Intelligence and others.
The Committee held a video conference with DCs and SSPs of six border districts besides IGP Border range.
A sum of Rupees one crore has also been placed at the disposal of every Deputy Commissioner for facilitating smooth and least painful evacuation of the people.
It was informed that the health services assistance, drinking water, toilets, food (langar), security of evacuated houses, fodder and generators etc were being arranged for special camps to be set up for the evacuees.
