In a major relief to the flood affected SC and other weaker sections of the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today announced that the state government would disburse payments of pensions and Shagun scheme to all these eligible beneficiaries of this region within a week. Addressing the gathering during his visit to the flood devastated villages of Sri Muktsar Sahib district here today, the Chief Minister said that the floods have caused massive damage to the infra structure and standing crops in the region but the worst affected were the people from weaker and downtrodden sections who were having limited sources of income. Mr. Badal said that they well aware of the fact that in this turbulent period even a small amount could be of great help to the flood victims so he had already directed the officers to make sure that all the outstanding dues pertaining to the pensions and Shagun scheme were made available to these beneficiaries within a week. It was our moral duty to help these sections of society, who have been badly shattered by recent floods, in this hour of crisis, he added.
The Chief Minister further said that likewise the farmers of region have also suffered a lot as their standing crops have been damaged due to the floods in the water logged areas. So he said that in order to facilitate the farmers of these areas, he had asked the Chairman of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to collect the security fee for applying Power connections to install water pumps from them, in easy installments. He said that this would assist in easing out financial burden on the farmers besides extending a helping hand to them in this hour of crisis. Mr. Badal said that he had already asked the Co-operative authorities to defer the recovery of loans from the farmers in wake of floods adding that the peasants could also make the payment of fertilizers purchased through co-operative societies in installments.
The Chief Minister said that the state government was fully committed to bail out the people in this hour of crisis and the entire government right from the ‘Chief Minister to Junior Engineer’ were sitting here to ensure the relief and rehabilitation of the people. Mr. Badal said that he was himself supervising all the relief operations to ensure that no stone was left unturned in helping the people in these difficult times. Assuring the people that the state government was committed for their welfare, he categorically said that there was no dearth of funds for this noble cause.
Expressing concern over the huge loss incurred due to this natural tragedy, the Chief Minister said that this was the biggest loss of the property and crops ever since the state had been facing the chronic problem of water logging. He said that efforts were afoot to find some viable solution for the menace of water logging and long term as well as short term strategies were being formulated to deal with it. Mr. Badal said that the officers of the state government were preparing a ‘master plan’ to upgrade and strengthen the centuries old drainage system of Punjab.
Lamenting that the Congress led UPA government at the centre was apathetic towards the flood victims of the state, the Chief Minister reiterated that the riders imposed by Centre were not allowing Punjab government to give adequate compensation to the flood victims in this hour of crisis. Terming the UPA government as enemy number one of the state, he said that the successive Congress governments at centre have meted out step motherly treatment to the state.
Later interacting with the media persons, the Chief Minister slammed the state Congress leadership for making malicious propaganda regarding the fiscal condition of the state. He reiterated that the financial condition of the state was very sound to meet its day-to-day administrative requirements. Taking a dig at Congress leaders, Mr. Badal dared them that if they had any doubt about the economic condition of state then they must seek special package for state from centre.
On the second day of his tour the Chief Minister visited Bhunder, Karniwala, Kuraiwala, Baadian, Lundewala, Mania Wala, Sukhna Ablu and Lohara villages. Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Lok Sabha MP Mrs. Paramjeet Kaur Gulshan, Chairman District Planning Board Mr. Hardeep Singh Dimpi Dhillon, senior Akali leader Mr. Sant Singh Brar, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema and Deputy Commissioner Mr. Paramjeet Singh.