Punjab has suffered a loss of more than Rs 1000 crore due to floods followed by heavy rains that lashed this part of the region about a fortnight ago. Maintaining that the survey to access the loss is still underway, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday said that the detailed report pertaining to the loss incurred by the people will be sent to the Centre, and a complete relief package will be sought for the State.
He said that the survey of crops, houses, roads, drainage system, and infrastructure is still going on and the exact loss would be known only after its completion.
“Though the exact amount is yet to be calculated, the state has roughly suffered a whopping loss of nearly Rs 1000 crore due to floods…The on-ground assessment of this loss will be done after overcoming the situation…people will be compensated for the loss of every single penny,” said the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday on the sidelines of his visit to the Bhakra Dam in Nangal to assess the situation in wake of incessant rains.
The Chief Minister, who held detailed parleys with the officers of the State Government, District Administration and that of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), said that the water level at the dams of the State is below the danger mark and the State Government is keeping a strict vigil over the entire situation, which is completely under control.
“It is a matter of great relief that the water level at Bhakra Dam is still below the danger mark so there is no immediate need of release of any water from the dam,” he said. The danger mark of Bhakra Dam is 1680 feet whereas the level of water at the dam on July 23 was 1653 feet.
“There is no need to panic as water level is fairly below the danger mark,” he said, while asking the officers to share the information regarding water level regularly with the people to avoid any confusion.
He said that it is also a matter of great reprieve that the Meteorological Department had not predicted any rainfall in the coming few days due to which the water level will further recede. The people must not get swayed away with canards pertaining to floods or opening of floodgates by dams until it is not verified by the authorities, he added.
The Chief Minister also exhorted the media to play a positive role by not creating panic by highly sensitizing fake news on floods. Heavy rainfall took place in the region on July 9, 10, and 11 which was far more than the total rainfall in the last one month. However, Mann said that the State Government is leaving no stone unturned and a complete vigil is being kept over the entire situation.
Lashing out at the political opponents for politicking even in this grave situation, the Chief Minister said that his Government has done remarkable work in every sphere even related to cleaning of canals. However, he said that in the past the Irrigation and Drainage Department had remained a ‘cash cow’ for the corrupt leaders and their stooges.
Mann said that these leaders had siphoned off the money meant for Drainage and Irrigation Department for their vested interests, he said, adding that the state Vigilance is already probing a huge scam in this department.
However, the Chief Minister said that to cope up with such a situation in the future, the State Government is already preparing a blueprint. He said that channelization of canals will be ensured in the coming times and the proposal of construction of a new canal for judicious use of water is also in pipeline. Cleaning of inundation canals, along with ensuring the natural flow of water, will also be accorded top priority by the State Government, he said.
The Chief Minister said that he has extensively toured the state’s flood-affected areas to assess the situation at the ground level. “Detailed instructions have been issued to the Deputy Commissioners to immediately carry out special girdawari in the areas lashed by rains to ascertain damage caused to crops, houses, animals, and others on priority,” he said, assuring the people that the Government is committed to safeguarding their interests against nature’s fury.
“Due to heavy flow of water, the paddy crop in many fields have been destroyed. However, to safeguard the farmers’ interests, the State Government is providing free saplings to the farmers of high yielding varieties of paddy,” said Mann, adding, “I have already directed the Punjab Agriculture University, PUNSEED, Agriculture Department, and others to provide the saplings of these varieties to farmers”.
More Than 27k People Shifted to Safer Places
To save precious human lives and property, Punjab Government machinery has been working on a war footing to normalize the situation created by torrential rains in the State with 27,261 flood-affected people evacuated to safe places. A total of 170 relief camps are running in the State in which 4871 people are staying. As of now, 1460 villages in 19 districts are still affected by floods.
Giving the top most priority to the people’s health, the state Health Department teams are actively working round the clock in the flood-affected areas. At present, 451 Rapid Response Teams have been working in flood ravaged areas, besides setting up 204 medical camps and providing free medicines to the patients.
As per the report received by the Revenue Department from different districts, a total of 40 people have lost their lives due to floods in the state. To keep livestock safe from diseases, Animal Husbandry Department has vaccinated 2084 animals whereas 1576 animals have been treated on July 22.