Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Gidderpindi/Sultanpur Lodhi
During his meetings to listen to the grievances of the flood-affected farmers at Gidderpindi village of Jalandhar and Sarupwal village of Sultanpur Lodhi, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said: “We will stop every project for the time being. Flood relief will be our only priority.”
He also announced village relief teams in the affected areas. Each team would comprise officers of health, civil supplies and animal husbandry departments and would ensure regular and timely supply of food, medicines and fodder for all affected families moving into flooded areas via boats on daily basis.
Capt Amarinder said: “I can assess the losses farmers would have suffered from my aerial survey. Nothing could be done. This was rain. Bhakra was already 2 feet above the danger mark. Had they not released water, there was a threat to the dam and it could have flooded the entire state. Normally, floods occur in August-end and September.”
Over the complaints of villagers against the drainage department for multiple breaches, he said: “What could they do? There was so much water pressure. The river had changed its course also.”
On compensation, he said: “At the moment, we cannot take a decision.”
Meanwhile, members of the Punjab IAS Association have decided to contribute one day’s salary to the CM’s Relief Fund.
‘Plug breaches’
- The CM directed drainage chief engineer Sanjiv Gupta not to leave Lohian until all breaches are plugged in Shahkot. He transferred TP Singh, superintendent engineer of drainage, who will be replaced by Manjit Singh.
‘Rivers to be canalised’
- The CM said all rivers would be canalised with the help of World Bank and Asian Development Bank. He said he was mulling a project to realign river streams, besides strengthening and widening river embankments.
