Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday approved release of Rs 40 crores to the state Drainage Department for preventive flood control measures, while ordering Special Girdawari to assess crop damage resulting from natural calamities.All Deputy Commissioners (DCs) in the state had been asked to immediately get the Special Girdawari conducted to assess the damage to crops on account of natural calamities, such as unseasonal rains, hailstorms, canal breaches and gale-force winds etc, said a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office (CMO).
DCs had also been asked to set up around-the-clock control rooms in their respective districts in view of imminent monsoon rains and possible flooding of rivers and drains, said the spokesperson, adding that the teams of the Revenue Department as well as the Irrigation or Drainage Departments were maintaining vigil along the vulnerable stretches of the rivers.
Spokesperson said that Rs 40 crore allocation to the Drainage Department will go towards preventive and pre-emptive action to strengthen the flood protection works in the sensitive stretches.
Sufficient budgetary provisions had been made by the Revenue Department for the State Disaster Management Fund to tackle any eventuality, added the spokesperson.