Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan assures full support to Punjab flood victims
Amritsar/Ajnala/Rajasansi (The Uttam Hindu) – Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan visited village Ghohnewala, located on the international border in Ajnala area of Punjab, badly affected by the floods of River Ravi, and inquired about the condition of the flood victims and took stock of the relief work.
MLA of Ajnala Assembly constituency and former Cabinet Minister of Punjab Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal apprised the people about the ground reality of the necessary assistance being provided by the State Government Ministers, former Ministers, MLAs, Aam Aadmi Party leaders and the entire District Civil and Police Administration for providing immediate relief to the flood victims, saving precious lives and rehabilitation work and the satisfactory role being played by the Governor of Punjab, Army, BSF, NDRF, other government agencies and social and religious organizations for relief work in this hour of crisis. Earlier, while talking to reporters after reaching Amritsar, Chauhan told that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sent him to Punjab so that he can assess the ground situation directly. After this, he left to visit the flood affected villages.
The Union Agriculture Minister said that two teams of the Centre have already reached Punjab. These teams will prepare a report by assessing the damage along with the officials of different departments, which will be submitted to the Prime Minister and the Central Government. He assured that the Central Government stands with Punjab in this hour of crisis. Meanwhile, Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, during his meeting with Chauhan, handed over the report of floods in five districts, Amritsar, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur. Chauhan said that so far information has been received about 1400 villages being affected. He said that he himself will visit these villages and meet the people to understand their problems. He will also take stock of the damage caused to crops and property. Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Ajnala Kuldeep Singh submitted a memorandum to Chauhan for financial assistance of Rs 2000 crore in the first phase to compensate for the huge loss suffered in this area. Along with this, he also submitted a memorandum for immediate release of funds of Rs 60,000 crore to Punjab from the Centre. Dhaliwal appealed to the Union Minister for immediate cooperation of the Central Government in providing prompt relief and rehabilitation measures to the flood victims and said that as the Ajnala Assembly constituency is located on the 49 km long India-Pakistan international border, the water of the international Ravi river flowing like a snake during the rainy season causes loss of life and property in the Ajnala Assembly constituency almost every year, while the citizens living in the rural and semi-urban areas of this border and Ravi river area are always ready to thwart the anti-India conspiracies of the neighboring country Pakistan, infiltration through narcotics, weapons and drones etc., while the BSF, as the second line of security, is always ready to strengthen the unity and integrity of the country in collaboration with Punjab Police and civil administration.
Earlier, at Sri Guru Ram Dass Ji Rajasansi International Airport, Amritsar, Mr. Dhaliwal welcomed Mr. Chouhan on behalf of Punjab Government in the presence of Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudia and submitted a memorandum demanding financial package of Rs. 2,000 crore in the first phase for rehabilitation and relief of flood victims of Ajnala Assembly Constituency and immediate release of the outstanding amount of Rs. 60,000 crore from Punjab Government to the Central Government.
While discussing the demand letter in detail, Dhaliwal told Mr Chauhan that the flood in the international river Ravi, which is even more devastating than the flood of 1988, has left no stone unturned in destroying the infrastructure built by these border people in the last 38 years in the Ajnala assembly constituency with hard work in the areas of economic, social, luxurious houses, agriculture, livestock, small business, all-round development, health, education, roads, embankments, bridges etc. and the devastation caused by the flood has also taken precious human lives. This loss can be compensated by the Central Government by releasing a financial package of Rs 2000 crore in the first phase.
He also informed Mr Chauhan that about two months ago in the first week of July he (Dhaliwal) had a high level meeting with Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil in New Delhi and raised the demand for release of necessary funds for the above floods and other problems but it has not been fulfilled till date. Mr Chauhan assured Mr Dhaliwal that the Central Government will soon take appropriate steps to release necessary assistance to the Punjab Government for relief and rehabilitation.