Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that the PCS officers deputed for the execution of relief and rehabilitation operations in the flood ravaged areas across the state as ‘nodal officers’ would be accountable for any lapse or dereliction in their duties. Addressing the gathering here today during his tour of the 11 flood affected villages of Sri Muktsar Sahib district, the Chief Minister asked the ‘nodal officers’ to ensure transparency and efficiency, in undertaking the relief and restoration works without resorting to an approach of ‘pick and choose’, in tandem with concerned village Panchayats. He asked the ‘nodal officers’ to disburse compensation after thoroughly cross checking the reports submitted by the Panchayats on the basis of total assessment of damage/ loss sustained by the villagers. Mr. Badal said that if any genuine flood victim was deprived of his legitimate share in the relief then the concerned officer and the Panchayat would be held responsible for it. Thus, the Chief Minister advised both the ‘nodal officers’ and Panchayats to be extra vigilant in accomplishing this task with due care and deliberation.
Peeved over the massive destruction caused due to the floods, the Chief Minister said that the restoration work for extensive damage caused to the public installations would be undertaken on the priority for which a comprehensive master plan would be prepared in the coming days. He said that the district administration in consultation with PWD (B&R), Mandi Board, Water Supply and Sanitation, PSPCL and other departments would carry on this gigantic task of the reconstruction of the damaged infra structure in the flood affected areas, on war footing. Striking a sympathetic chord with the flood affected people, the Chief Minister said “We are committed to help all of you and it is obligatory on our part to extend all possible help in this hour of grave crisis”.
The Chief Minister reiterated that he had already ordered a special Girdawri for assessing the loss caused to the standing crops besides a survey to ascertain the damage caused to house property in these flood ravaged areas. He said that the state government would leave no stone unturned to extend a helping hand to the victims of floods. However, Mr. Badal assailed the Union government for turning a deaf ear to their repeated requests for revising the norms of compensation for the damage caused to crops, cattle and house property, which was too meager to compensate the loss of the victims inflicted by such natural disasters.
The Chief Minister said that the policies of the Union government reflected complete insensitivity of the leaders and officers towards the matters concerning the common man, especially the farmers. He said that the farmers of the state were already on crossroads due to the anti-farmer policies of the UPA government, which has made their life deplorable. Mr. Badal equated the inadequate compensation granted by centre to the farmers on account of their 100% damage to crops to rubbing salt into their wounds. He reminded the UPA government of its obligation to repay the debt of Punjabi farmers by announcing timely and adequate compensation to make his loss good at this critical juncture.
Later interacting with the media persons at village Udai Karan, the Chief Minister said that the gross apathy of the Union government towards the hard working and resilient farmers of the state was evident from the fact that the Centre was deliberately dilly dallying the project to tackle water logging in the state. He said that notwithstanding the huge loss in terms of damaged infra structure and crops due to the water logging, the centre was least concerned about tackling this menace. Mr. Badal said that a high level team of Planning Commission of India that had visited the water logged areas of the state had submitted the project report to the Union government, which was gathering dust there, spoke volumes of centre’s absolute insensitivity towards this serious problem.
Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Lok Sabha MP Mr. Sher Singh Ghubaya, MLA Malout Mr. Harpreet Singh, President of Nagar Council Muktsar Mr. Mit Singh Brar, Financial Commissioner Revenue Mr. NS Kang, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. SK Sandhu, Principal Secretary Irrigation Mr. Sarvesh Kaushal and Akali leader Mr. Kanwaljeet Singh Rozi Barkandi.