Chief Minister Punjab Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today visited the flood affected areas in Ajnala Sector and inspected the ongoing restoration work along the banks of Ravi River. He was accompanied by Mr. Rattan Singh Ajnala, Member Parliament, Mr. Amarpal Singh Boni, MLA, Mr. S.K. Sandhu, Principal Secy, Mr. N.S.Kang, Financial Commissioner Revenue, Mr. Sarvesh Kaushal, Principal Secy. Irrigation, Mr. Ishwar Chander, I.G Police, Mr. Rajat Aggarwal, Deputy Commissioner and other senior officials from drainage deptt.
Expressing satisfaction over the nature and pace of strengthening operations on Dhussi Bandh, Mr. Badal said that the timely action by Distt. Administration coupled with the mighty input from the local residents and BSF, a major tragedy has been averted. He said that throughout the operation, he maintained a constant touch with Distt Administration telephonically and took stalk of the situation on hourly basis.
Mr Badal said that with the construction of Ranjit Sagar Dam the probability of flood in Ajnala Sector has been reduced to quite an extent and it is one of the rarest of rare occasions that the water level swelled up to 5 lac cusecs against 24000 cusecs of routine flow, just in a short span of time. Yet, in the nick of time, the distt. Adminstration rose of up to the occasion, successfully evacuated the area and plugged the breach in Dhussi Bandh thereby saving precious human lives, said he. He added that Govt. would issue appreciation letters to all concerned.
Answering the query pertaining future flood control measures, Mr. Badal informed that Rs 161 crore proposal for strengthening the embankments and other flood control measures in the region has been forwarded by the drainage deptt. and the same would be implemented soon after the reviewal by the officials concerned. He added that he was on a 3 day tour to the flood affected areas of Amritsar, Tarntaran, Gurdaspur, Ferozepur, Fazilka and Muktsar and after assessing the ground realities a comprehensive strategy for better flood protection would be evolved.
Conceding to the demands of the locals, Mr. Badal gave an immediate consent to the construction of Pantoon Bridge on Ravi in Ajnala Sector. Mr. Badal informed that with all requests for compensation to the farmers having land across fencing turned deaf ear by Centre Govt, the Govt. of Punjab has provided a compensation of Rs. 3000 per acre to such farmers and Rs.70 lac have been provided to the Distt. Administration for prompt distribution over and above the funds allocated for Border Area Development.
Answering yet another query on demand for compensation to the tune of Rs. 30,000 per acre for farmers of the flood affected areas by PPCC Chief Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa, Mr. Badal said that instead of indulging into flood politics and publicity gimmicks, Mr. Bajwa should come up with something concrete and should take up the cause of farmers with Centre Govt. He said that he has complete empathy for flood affected farmers and would take up their case with Centre Govt. for multifold hike in compensation as against the set amount of Rs. 5000 per acre.