Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh said that people need not get panicked about floods during the monsoon season as the Punjab Government is on high alert and all necessary flood-prevention measures have already been completed through coordinated efforts of various departments. He said that the Health Department has intensified awareness campaigns against dengue and other communicable diseases while ensuring robust treatment arrangements.
The Health Minister was addressing a press conference in Patiala regarding the state’s preparedness for possible floods. Dr. Balbir Singh said that the Ghaggar River, the Badi Nadi and other rivers and seasonal drains are under constant monitoring.
He assured that there is no need for public panic as the Drainage Department and the district administration have already completed all flood-prevention preparations. He added that desilting of the Badi Nadi, strengthening of embankments and enhancement of its carrying capacity have also been undertaken.
Highlighting measures to prevent water-borne diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, diarrhoea and hepatitis, the Minister said that the 104 Health Helpline has been activated for any medical emergency. Coordination has been established among the Health Department, Drainage Department, Water Supply Department, Local Government Department, Panchayati Raj institutions, Education Department, IMA, Chemists’ Associations, NGOs and other concerned departments.
A list of 85 essential medicines has been prepared and supplied to hospitals for prompt response during any flood-related health emergency. He further informed that 1,200 beds have been reserved in government hospitals across Punjab for dengue patients.
Dengue testing capacity has been increased tenfold, with 30,000 tests conducted at Aam Aadmi Clinics alone. The “Dengue Te Vaar” campaign conducted every Friday has also been intensified.
Under the Chief Minister’s Health Scheme, free treatment for dengue patients and a single-dose platelet kit worth about Rs 12,000 are being provided free of cost. Dr. Balbir Singh said that 2,300 joint teams have been constituted across the state.
Around 1,500 breeding checkers, 38,122 trained nursing students and 20,515 ASHA workers have been deployed to inspect nearly 5.3 million households, while dengue larvae have been destroyed in more than 11,000 houses. District-level task forces have also been constituted, and all activities are being monitored in real time.
Responding to a question regarding the Prime Minister’s proposed visit to Punjab on July 17, Dr. Balbir Singh expressed hope that the Central Government would stop discriminating against Punjab and release the pending flood relief announced last year, the withheld Rural Development Fund and the reduced allocations under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare before the visit.
Earlier, Dr. Balbir Singh chaired a review meeting with Deputy Commissioner Dr. Himanshu Aggarwal, ADC (Rural Development) Damanjit Singh Mann, Additional Commissioner of Municipal Corporation Simarpreet Kaur, IMA Patiala President Dr. Amandeep Singh Bakhshi, Chemists’ Association Presidents Gursharan Singh Dhillon and Gurjeet Singh Lucky, Civil Surgeon Dr. Shelly Jetley, and officials from the Drainage, Irrigation, Water Supply, Animal Husbandry and other departments to review flood preparedness.
On the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Himanshu Aggarwal stated that, as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, all necessary flood-management arrangements have been completed in Patiala district. The Flood Control Room is operational round the clock on 0175-2350550 and 0175-2385550, and for the first time, a dedicated WhatsApp number will also be launched shortly for public assistance.
Dr. Aggarwal further said that an audit of weed removal from rivers will be conducted, with machinery permanently deployed for repeated clearance. Adequate numbers of boats, life jackets, ropes and other rescue equipment have been arranged.
Proper drainage of rainwater has also been ensured in Patiala city as well as other towns and villages across the district.