leader of opposition in the Vidhan Sabha and Haldwani MlA Indira Hridayesh has lambasted the State Government accusing it of failure in disaster management and finance. She said that by handing out cheques for small amounts like Rs 150 to some disaster victims, the State authorities had played a cruel joke of the citizens. The Government should provide 80 per cent of the cost of damage suffered by disaster victims as compensation to them, she stressed.
It should be mentioned here that while the Chief Minister has reportedly ordered a probe into such small amounts being paid in compensation to disaster victims, the opposition has seized the opportunity to question the functioning of the State Government. The leader of opposition said that handing out cheques for small amounts ranging from Rs 90 to Rs 150 to disaster victims is very unfortunate. When the Government does have funds to even pay the salaries of the MlAs, it should refrain from playing such a cruel joke on disaster victims, she said. Further questioning the functioning of the Government, she said that the Chief Minister is reviewing the situation through video conferencing from a room whereas he should be getting out of his office and personally visit the disaster affected areas to gauge the situation.