IEP Chandigarh, July 9
In wake of incessant rain across the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has asked all the Cabinet Ministers, MLAs and the officers to stay in their respective areas and reach out to the needy people in this hour of grave crisis. The Chief Minister, who is personally monitoring the situation in wake of nature’s fury, said that the Cabinet Ministers, MLAs and officers must ensure an elaborate flood protection mechanism is put in place to safeguard the life and property of people. He said that the Cabinet Ministers. MLAs and Officers should go amongst the people in their area and ensure relief to them at the earliest. Bhagwant Mann said that Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSPs) should expedite the relief work in their respective districts so as to provide succor to the masses. The Chief Minister said that an alert has already been issued in low lying areas especially those around the rivers adding that people should not go out of home until some important work is there. He said that due to continuous rain across the state, a flood like situation has emerged but the state government is keeping a regular tab over the situation. Bhagwant Mann said that all the Ministers and MLAs should visit their respective constituencies especially in low lying and flood prone areas to ensure that help is provided to the needy people. The Chief Minister said that as it is raining heavily across the state, so a flood like situation has arisen at some places. He said that DCs, SSPs, SDMs and field staff must remain vigilant and do the needful on priority to minimize damage due to excessive water. Bhagwant Mann asked the officers to ensure that pump houses of water works at all places are protected by putting sandbags around them to prevent submergence of water works. The Chief Minister said that any sort of callousness in this work is unwarranted and undesirable. He reiterated the firm commitment of his government to provide immediate relief and help to the people in this hour of severe crisis. Bhagwant Mann said that the state government is duty bound to secure the interests of the people in this situation caused due to the heavy downpour of water. Meanwhile, swinging into action after directives of the Chief Minister, the Cabinet Ministers and MLAs have tied up with the district administration to give relief to the people. The Ministers and MLAs are visiting the low lying and flood prone areas to ensure that people are evacuated from these areas to safe positions. They have also given directions to the officers to make concerted efforts for minimising the damage caused due to heavy downpour of water. Meanwhile, in all the districts of the state the DCs have set up flood control rooms to help the people in hour of crisis. The numbers have been publicised and officials have been appointed round the clock in these control rooms to serve the people. The officials have been directed to ensure immediate action on any sort of distress call by people in case of emergency.
