Tanda (Hoshiarpur), September 1:
Asserting that Punjab is facing the worst floods in the recent history, the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday assured the people that the state government is with them in this hour of crisis and every effort will be made to bail them in this hour of crisis.
The Chief Minister, who undertook a whirlwind tour of the flood affected areas in Hoshiarpur, also interacted with the people in Shelter Home at Government Senior Secondary School Miani. During the interaction he said that natural fury has caused unprecedented damage across the state but the state government is carrying out massive operations for the rescue and relief of the flood affected people. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government has already taken several steps to give relief to the people in this unprecedented situation.
The Chief Minister said that the state government is committed for bailing out the people in the flood ravaged districts of the state adding that directions have been passed to evacuate the people in marooned areas and immediately provide relief to them. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that all the departments across the districts have been asked to work in unison to ensure that people get maximum relief in this hour of crisis. Asserting that the state government will compensate the people for the loss of every single penny incurred by the people, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he is regularly monitoring the situation unfolding in the state due to the natural disaster.
The Chief Minister also visited Rara Bridge to take stock of the situation at ground level in the flood affected areas. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he had already written a letter to the Prime Minister and urged him to release Rs 60,000 crore that was stuck with the Government of India. He said that the recent floods have impacted more than 1000 villages across the state and has affected lakhs of people.
The Chief Minister said that heavy monsoon rains, coupled with the release of waters from dams, have caused extensive flooding in more than 10 districts. He said that the situation is still evolving as there is a grave concern that conditions may further deteriorate in the coming days. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that at present, about three lakh acres of farmland, primarily paddy fields have submerged under floodwater, leading to devastating crop losses just weeks before harvest.
In addition, the Chief Minister said that there has been a widespread loss of livestock, which is severely impacting rural households whose livelihoods are heavily dependent on dairy and animal husbandry. He said that a strong multi-department workforce is already working round the clock, on the ground, to complete the relief and rescue work. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the breaches along the flooded rivers are being plugged and medical teams are being deployed to provide preventive care against diseases in every village.
The Chief Minister said that along with relief works, the teams are undertaking water sampling, outdoor and indoor spray, water chlorination, fever survey, card tests for timely detection of malaria and dengue, distribution of sanitary napkins and mosquito nets in coming times. He also said that the water supply and sanitation department is pressing in water tankers for providing clean and potable drinking water in the villages until the supply through water supply schemes is fully restored. Likewise, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Water testing teams are being deployed to check water quality in all the villages to avoid any epidemic outbreak.
The Chief Minister said that besides water, dry ration kits, sugar, rice, wheat flour, ghee, milk powder are being provided to the people in marooned villages. He said that pumping operations are already in progress on a war footing adding that inundated villages are being cleared of water. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that medical relief is being provided to the affected people in relief camps, medical camps and even at their doorsteps.
Likewise, the Chief Minister said that Mobile Medical Units are being deployed in the villages to impart quality health facilities. He also said that Dedicated anti larva teams are also being deployed to detect dengue larva in flood-hit villages. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that special teams will be visiting villages to teach the people about measures to prevent diseases like malaria, dengue, diarrhoea, typhoid and skin problems, since community engagement is necessary to combat these diseases.
The Chief Minister further said that Veterinary teams will also be deployed in large numbers for the treatment and vaccination of the affected cattle, deworming of the animals and provision of feed/fodder. He said that a major sanitization drive is being launched in the villages and fogging teams will be deployed to check the spread of water borne diseases. Likewise, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that sanitary workers and MGNREGA workers will be assigned the task of professionally cleaning the villages.
The Chief Minister said that bleaching powder will be sprayed in the drains to ward off foul smell and prevent the outbreak of related diseases. He assured the people that the state government will leave no stone unturned to help the people in this hour of distress. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the fury of flood is an unforeseen natural calamity but the state government is fully capable of dealing with such a situation.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Cabinet Minister Dr. Ravjot, Lok Sabha Member Dr. Raj Kumar Chabbewal and others.
