Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi convened a meeting to review flood situation in the State on Friday. The high level meeting was attended by senior Ministers Anandiben Patel and Saurabh Patel as well as Chief Secretary Varesh Sinha and other top bureaucrats.
At the meeting, it was decided to submit memorandum with the Central Government to avail financial assistance to assist flood-affected people. Besides, rehabilitation of evacuated people, damage in crops, roads and other properties were discussed.
The officials presented detailed report on heavy rain in various parts of the State and situation of flood-affected people from September 21 up to Friday evening. The State received 244 ml rain in last seven days as a result of it 88 out of 135 dams in parched Saurashtra-Kutch areas overflowed.
Modi stressed on cleanliness drive in the flood-affected areas, especially in Surat, Vadodara and Bharuch. He instructed to complete the cleanliness campaign before the beginning of Navaratri festival, which is starting from October 5. In the case of lapse in the work, he suggested punitive actions against responsible people.
It was also discussed to increase water storage capacity of dams and rivers and purchase modern equipments like speed boats, life jackets etc to counter flood-like situation in future.
In another meeting of crisis group, it was decided to give `2 lakh to kin of deceased in floods. Those who were shifted from flood low-lying areas would be given `40 per day till they will be rehabilitated. The State Government has decided to give `70,000 to those whose houses were completely collapsed in flood and `4,500 for more than 50 per cent damage to non-irrigated crops and `9,000 for irrigated crops. Of nearly 45,000 evacuated people, 23,000 were sent back from relief camps. As many as 428 health teams are active to offer services to flood affected people.
Meanwhile, people of Central and South Gujarat heaved a sigh of relief following sunshine. Water in Vadodara, Surat, Bharuch and other flood-affected areas have receded. However, rain god has shifted its direction from Rajkot to coastal parts of Saurashtra and Kutch areas. In the last 24 hours four to 18 inches of rains reported in the areas. Nearly 1,000 people were shifted to safer places in Porbandar district. Deaths of six people have been confirmed due to rain related incidents.