IEP Chandigarh, July 09
Following the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann regarding the immediate assessment of the situation of the flood affected areas of the state in the wake of heavy rains in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, the Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Minister Bram Shankar Jimpa, Power and PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO and Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh on Sunday visited various flood affected areas of the state to take stock of the situation and ongoing relief activities. Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Punjab government said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has directed the ministers, MLAs and officials of the state to be ready to deal with any situation arising due to heavy rain, and the Punjab government has made adequate arrangements in this regard. He said that following these directions the Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Minister Bram Shankar Jimpa along with the senior officials of the respective districts visited the flood affected areas of Hoshiarpur and Adampur. On this occasion, Mr. Jimpa gave necessary directions to the officials and asked them to ensure all possible help to the flood effected people as per the directions issued by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. He said that the Revenue Department has already started the process to release funds to deal with the flood like situation. Divulging further, the spokesperson said that the Power and PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO visited the flood affected villages Malowal and Dharar of Amritsar district. The minister directed the district administration to make arrangements for pumping out rain water accumulated in the fields and residential areas on priority. On this occasion, Deputy Commissioner Amritsar Amit Talwar apprised the Minister that the district administration has made all arrangements for any situation arising due to heavy rain. He informed the minister that the people in the areas adjacent to the river Ravi have already been informed about the release of water from the dam and adequate arrangements have been made to carry the people to the safe areas. Meanwhile, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Patiala Sakshi Sawhney visited the flood-ravaged low-lying areas in Patiala rural and reviewed the situation at Vaddi Nadi and Chotti Nadi. He also called in JCB machines and pumping machines on the spot to get the accumulated water cleared from low-lying areas. On this occasion, Dr Balbir Singh urged the people not to panic as Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government has made all the arrangements to deal with any exigency arising out of floods.
