Punjab Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia on Friday visited border areas in Amritsar district to take stock of the makeshift arrangements made for the villagers, who have been shifted from the areas near Indo-Pak border.
Majithia assured the people that all help and support would be provided to the shifted people by the Punjab Government.
“Government has decided to evacuate 10-kilometer area along the Indo-Pak international border as a precautionary measure after surgical attacks by the Indian Army on Pakistani militants,” he said adding that the people should not panic due to rumors but be cautious.
He said that the people of Punjab are very brave and even shown their strength in the past instances and wholeheartedly supported the “national cause”. He said that we should cooperate with our security forces as they are here to protect us.
Majithia said that financial grant for these make shift arrangements has been released by the Punjab Government to the district administration. “Six temporary camps have been set up…and six more are being set up at various places,” he said.
He added that arrangements of food, accommodation, medical support, electricity, toilet facilities are also being made by the Punjab Government. Besides, green fodder is being arranged for animals, he said.
Majithia said that clear cut instructions have been issued to the police administration to protect the houses of the people who have been evacuated to the safer places. People need not panic as Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has asked the Union Petroleum Minister to increase the supply of diesel and petrol in the area, he said.
“Administration will provide all support to the farmers to cultivate the paddy crop and also appealed to the people not harvest premature paddy. Punjab government is committed to ensure purchase of every grain of paddy brought to the mandis,” he said.
HEAlTH DEParTment READY with aid
Chandigarh: For tackling any type of medical emergencies in view of escalated tension in the border areas, Punjab Health Department has made all necessary arrangements.
To review the arrangements, the state Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani on Friday called a meeting of senior officers including Principal Secretary Health Vini Mahajan, Secretary Health-cum-Punjab Health System Corporation (PHSC) Hussan lal, Director Health Services Dr HS Bali and others.
All the preparatory arrangements at the level of Health and Family Welfare Department for providing smooth medical services in case of any emergency situations were reviewed in the meeting.
Directions have been issued to all officers of the department, especially the Civil Surgeons of border districts of Amritsar, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur and Pathankot, to remain on full alert.
“All kinds of leaves of medical and paramedical staff posted in hospitals in the affected areas have been cancelled with immediate effect. Rural Medical Officers posted in the districts have also been asked to provide their services in affected areas as required by the Health Department,” he said.
Jayani said that Civil Surgeons have been told to ensure that all ambulances should be checked and fully functional to tackle any type of adverse eventuality.
“They have further been directed to maintain adequate stock of medicines and other essential drugs including availability of blood of all groups in the blood banks in the government hospitals,” he said, adding that adequate funds have already been given to the districts.
Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) have been withdrawn from their regular tour plans and deputed in all camps where people evacuated from border areas are being lodged, he said adding that additional staff for border districts would be mobilized from adjoining districts, if required.
Principal Secretary, Health, Vini Mahajan informed that emergency medical response services dial-108 have been put on high alert along-with toll free Medical Helpline no 104.
Drug Warehouses have been alerted to procure and keep ready adequate stocks of life saving drugs, medicines, consumables etc to ensure an uninterrupted supply chain of medicines to the health institutions of the border districts, she said.
CAPT TO CAMP AT AMRITSAR FROM OCT 7
Chandigarh: Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh has decided to stay put in Amritsar from October 7 in solidarity with the people living in border areas. He would also visit the holy city for a day on October 4.
Besides, he also decided to put on hold the campaign programmes in border constituencies in the wake of escalating situation in border areas.
“I wanted to move to Amritsar immediately but due to some already scheduled programmes elsewhere in the state, which cannot be cancelled, I have to wait till October 7, when I will start camping there,” said Capt Amarinder.
The state Congress president has appealed all the party workers to reach the border areas, right from Gurdaspur to Ferozepur, in solidarity with the people living there.
All the leaders assigned with the campaign duties in border constituencies have been asked to be stationed in their respective areas (border assembly constituencies) as a mark of solidarity with the border residents.
He also asked the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to make proper arrangements for the paddy procurement and ensure that the moment the paddy reaches the mandis (markets), it is purchased and the farmers are paid their money without any delay.
Capt Amarinder suggested that the male population in the border areas should be allowed to stay back till the harvesting is over. Besides, he added, the villagers cannot afford to leave behind their livestock, as there are no arrangements made by the government for its safety.
Moreover, the farmers owning milch animals will also need to stay back lest they suffer grave losses.
BRAR VISITS EVACUATED VIllAGERS IN CAMPS
Fazilka: Former MP Jagmeet Singh Brar on Friday visited villages along the international border and met displaced villagers in the evacuee camps set up in Fazilka district.
The former Congressman, Brar appealed to all political parties, cutting across the party lines, to come united to “protect the families whose sons join the Army to protect us”.
“I urge all political parties to set aside their campaigns for a few days and divert resources to help those evacuated from our borders, and once again beg the government to give these poor people fair compensation,” he said.
CHANNI OFFERS FUll SUPPORT TO GOVT
Moga: Maintaining that the people of Punjab living on borders are brave enough to face any kind of eventuality, Congress legislature Party (ClP) leader Charanjit Singh Channi on Friday offered full support and help to the State Government.
“I am ready with army of youth to face any situation. The government can depute my youth anywhere if needed for the help of the citizens,” said Channi, adding that the Congress party share the difficulty faced by the families in this hour.
Channi also talked to the Congress leaders and the legislatures who represent the border constituencies and asked them about the current situation being faced by the people.
He also assured them all the help from the Congress party for the people who have been displaced in this hour.
At the same time, he appealed to all the political parties to come forward unitedly for sake of nation and not to politicize the matter.
Channi requested the CM and the Deputy CM to personally visit the families and give them all possible support from the State Government for the kids and the women folk. Special arrangements should be made for the kids and the women, he demanded.