Declare Bihar floods a national disaster: Tejashwi to PM

Leader of the opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, on Monday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding declaration of the state’s floods as a “National disaster” and immediate financial assistance of Rs 5,000 crore to the State to tackle the situation.

In his letter, Yadav alleged that the “financially bankrupt” Bihar Government “persistently failed in taking response, mitigation and adaptation measures” and was “indifferent” to helping flood victims.

Fed by heavy rainfall, rivers have swelled and inundated 13 districts of Bihar, affecting 27 lakh people, officials said. So far in September, the state received 69.1 mm of rain, which is 55 per cent above normal. Describing flood relief and rescue arrangements made by the NDA Government in the state as “grossly inadequate,” Yadav claimed that the Bihar ministers and the ruling alliance’s Union ministers and MPs elected from Bihar appeared “helpless, ineffective and incapable” in the wake of the disaster.

“They have neither been able to get the Centre to declare the severe floods a national disaster nor have they been able to strongly demand a special relief and assistance package for Bihar,” he said.

The RJD leader alleged that the state’s contingency fund and other financial resources were “used for routine Government expenditure,” creating an acute shortage of funds for relief during the ongoing disaster.

“I urge the Central Government to provide immediate financial assistance of Rs 5,000 crore to Bihar and announce a special flood relief package,” Yadav wrote in his letter.

In the letter, he demanded that the Union Government order an independent review or CAG audit of the state’s financial and disaster-management preparedness, as well as the transactions of the state’s Contingency Fund.

Yadav also demanded immediate provision of additional rescue boats, food, drinking water, medicines, cattle fodder, temporary shelters, and special financial assistance to vulnerable groups in worst-hit areas.

He sought the assistance of the Army and Air Force helicopters, wherever required, for flood relief and rescue operations.

“A long-term flood resilience mission should be launched, covering river and embankment management, drainage, revival of water reservoirs, modern flood forecasting, an effective water-management policy and suitable agreements with neighbouring countries,” the RJD leader said.

He urged the central Government not to “discriminate against Bihar” in any manner and to provide special central assistance to the state as part of a humanitarian and national responsibility.